Source: Eurosport
Hull v Southend - 25 August
Altidore sinks Shrimpers[LNB]Jozy Altidore scored his first Hull goal as the Tigers claimed a place in the third round of the Carling Cup with a 3-1 win over Southend.[LNB]The USA striker marked his first start by doubling a much-changed Hull side's lead after a brilliant opener from debutant Tom Cairney at the KC Stadium.[LNB]League One Southend made life difficult for their top-flight hosts by replying through Franck Moussa but substitute Geovanni wrapped up the win.[LNB]Hull manager Phil Brown fielded an entirely different side from the one which secured a first victory of the season against Bolton on Saturday.[LNB]That allowed a number of fringe players an opportunity while Altidore, on a season-long loan from Villarreal, was given the chance to improve his match fitness.[LNB]Cairney, Hull's current young player of the year, could not have wished for a better start to his first senior outing as he struck a sublime opener with just seven minutes gone.[LNB]Southend failed to clear a Hull attack and were punished as the 18-year-old seized possession on the edge of the area and delicately lobbed Steve Mildenhall with his left foot.[LNB]The goal more than made up for an earlier mistake when Cairney miscontrolled a pass from Peter Halmosi in the box.[LNB]Nathan Doyle, Hull's fourth right-back in four games this season, fired in a dangerous cross but it was too high for Craig Fagan.[LNB]Southend's best effort of the early stages was a tame header from Alex Revell which Tony Warner easily gathered.[LNB]The game then endured a lull and there was little to enthuse a 7,994 crowd that filled less than a third of the ground.[LNB]Southend's tiny following comfortably outsang their hosts for a period but it was not until the half-hour when they enjoyed some serious action as Alan McCormack shot over from an Anthony Grant cross.[LNB]Altidore then got into the game but was denied a shooting opportunity by a well-timed tackle from Jean Yves M'Voto.[LNB]The burly 19-year-old showed how well he can hit a ball three minutes before the interval after Hull won a free-kick 30 yards out.[LNB]Veteran Nick Barmby, captain for the evening, rolled the ball into his path and the American's powerful drive beat Mildenhall low to his left.[LNB]Hull might have hoped that goal would kill the game but Southend had no intention of surrendering tamely and responded immediately.[LNB]The Shrimpers got themselves back into the game on the stroke of half-time as the ball bounced kindly for Moussa and the Belgian made no mistake from the edge of the area.[LNB]Simon Francis blasted well over from distance early in the second half for Southend while Barmby also failed to hit the target at the other end.[LNB]Altidore had another attempt at goal from 25 yards but Mildenhall was not troubled.[LNB]A slip by Steven Mouyokolo almost allowed Southend an opportunity to equalise but Lee Barnard's cross was poor.[LNB]Barnard, scorer of both goals in the first-round win over Cheltenham, later found another opening but Warner saved his 20-yard shot.[LNB]Southend had an even better chance on 68 minutes as Grant found himself unmarked in the box but Warner slid across to block.[LNB]Hull had further cause for concern after McCormack broke clear down the right but his cross was just too high for Barnard.[LNB]Brown decided to step up the tempo by bringing on last weekend's match-winner Kamel Ghilas after 74 minutes but it was an earlier substitute, Geovanni, who eased nerves a minute later.[LNB]The ball fell to the Brazilian outside the box after Doyle's shot was blocked and the former Barcelona man hit a wicked bouncing shot past Mildenhall.[LNB]Hull's extra quality then began to show as Geovanni, Ghilas and Altidore combined to cut open the Shrimpers defence but the finish was lacking.[LNB]A long-range free-kick from Geovanni then flashed narrowly wide of the target.
