Hull CIty's and Marco Silva's positive strides to survival continued as they managed to fight off relegation rivalsSwansea 2-1.
The Hull City manager will certainly be highly praised for his positive substitutions and tactical changes in the second half when he bought on Niasse to put them two up front. It was a nervy last few minutes though as Swansea pulled one back in stoppage time.
The Everton reject turned out to be the super sub of the game, when he fired in two very well finished goals in the second halfgiving the Tigers a huge boost in their survival hopes.
A huge blow for Swansea though in their survival fight and also having two players go off injured, one of those being their main man Llorente.
Oumar Niasse...
Joins Everton for £13.5m - 0 goals
Joins Hull on loan - 4 goals
Marco the Magician #HULSWA pic.twitter.com/CXUR93sBd7
The first half wasn't full of chances by all means, but with the two good chances that there were, both goalkeepers pulled off brilliant saves. Jakupovic brilliantly saved a one on one in the opening minutes ofthe first half from Routledge, who looked certain to score, but a Jakupovic leg denied him.
Fabianski also made a superb, and very brave save when he clattered into Hernandez to punch away a cross that looked destined for the Hull striker's head and potentially the back of the net.
A big blow for Swansea in the firsthalf though wasn't that they conceded, but their in-form striker Llorente was substituted off after not being able to recover from aknee to his leg earlier on. The second enforced sub of the first halffor Swans saw Rangel go off injured earlier on in the half.
Swansea vs Hull is a great tactical battle so far. Two very well controlled teams in different aspects.
The second half saw Wayne Routledge miss another greatopportunityin a game with few clear cutchances up to that point. Sigurdsson fired in a low cross which Jakupovic dived on the floor to push out, but it went straight to Routledge.
The Welshmenabsolutelyfired the ball over the bar in what was a veryembarrassingshot, not an open goal but certainly a very good chance to break the deadlock.
Hull City decided to change things up a bit and put two up top and it made them a much bigger threat with some very hairy moments for Swansea, but nothing came of it for them. Just a few games of pin ball in the Swansea box.
How city haven't scored is unbelievable. Absolute pin ball in the Swansea box results in Sigurdsson clearing. #HULSWA
The change of formation really did work wonders for the Tigers though. A brilliant substitute and decision by Marco Silva, as Niasse got put through one on one by Hernandezand he beautifully slotted the ball past Fabianski, breaking the deadlock.
Silva will certainly be praised for his positive substitution as Niasse did it again and put Hull City up two to the good.A great touch from the super sub from a cross, who then volleyed the ball into the bottom left corner. He is definitely trying to prove a point to Everton and show why he should be starting at Hull.
ï“· | What. A. Finish. #HULSWA pic.twitter.com/StmW5z1bG8
Mawson gave Swansea a glimmer of hope in stoppage time when Sigurdsson whipped in a free kick and the young Swansea defender nodded the ball into the back of the Hull City net. This time Niasse was at fault for the goal, as he had switched off.
It was a nervous ending for Hull and their fans but they managed to hold on and secure the vital three points in their relegation battle.
Hull have competed like a side fighting relegation. Swans look like one who think they're safe already.
Team Lineups
Hull City: Jakupovic; Elabdellaoui, Ranocchia, Maguire, Robertson, Huddlestone, Markovic, N'Diaye, Clucas, Grosicki, Hernandez.
Subs: Davies, Meyler, Maloney, Diomande, Marshall, Niasse, Elmohamady.
Swansea: Fabianski; Rangel, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Fer, Cork, Carroll, Routledge, Llorente, Sigurdsson.
Subs: Amat, Ayew, Britton, Gonzalez, Nordfeldt, Narsingh, Kingsley.