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Hull City v Everton: FA Cup 3rd round tactical preview

By Rob Fisher

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Detail of the FA Cup trophy during The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 15: Detail of the FA Cup trophy during The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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The FA Cup 3rd Round is one of the most anticipated weekends in the footballing calendar. David versus Goliath, who will be the giant-killing victim? This may not be the case when Hull City take on Everton in the prime time TV game on Saturday night.

Despite Hull being a division below Everton, given the woeful form The Toffees find themselves in it would not be a massive shock if Hull advanced to the next round.

To analyse Hull tactically I got the views of Alex from Hull City Official Supporters Club (@HCOSC_Official) via Twitter on how they might line up, any players to watch out for and the strengths and weaknesses of the line up.

Hull’s manager Grant McCann, below, has changed between a 4-3-3 and a 3-5-2 formation over the season so far, with the 3-5-2 providing more positive results including a six game unbeaten run until mid December. Injuries to both right backs has perhaps pushed McCann to use this system and opposition teams may well have had time to work out how to counter act this now.

BARNSLEY, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Grant McCann, Manager of Hull City looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Barnsley and Hull City at Oakwell Stadium on November 06, 2021 in Barnsley, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
BARNSLEY, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Grant McCann, Manager of Hull City looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Barnsley and Hull City at Oakwell Stadium on November 06, 2021 in Barnsley, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) /

Hull’s main dangerman is Keane Lewis-Potter, the young 20-year-old winger has been directly involved in 8 of Hull’s goals this season. George Honeyman is a name some may have heard before and Everton will have to bypass him in midfield to get into the final third.

A lack of firepower is the main weakness for Hull, their main striker Josh Magennis only has two goals all season. It is a very youthful squad at Hull with many players under 25 years of age.

The main objective for Hull this season is to stay in the Championship and they have done well to stay above the relegation zone thus far. With a small squad they won’t be able to change the team that much for Saturday, unlike Everton.

Rafa Benitez has also played a 3-5-2 formation in the last two games, but may switch back to a 4-3-3 with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison likely to be missing. This means he can more utilise his two in form players of Demarai Gray, pictured below with Benitez, and Anthony Gordon either side of a striker.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 02: Everton manager Rafael Benitez talks to Demarai Gray and Jonjoe Kenny during the Premier League match between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on January 2, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 02: Everton manager Rafael Benitez talks to Demarai Gray and Jonjoe Kenny during the Premier League match between Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion at Goodison Park on January 2, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) /

Are we likely to see either of Everton’s new full back’s in the FA Cup tie? There is a good chance of Vitaliy Mykolenko being involved in either formation as left back or left wing back as he has been playing regularly before his move to England.

I would expect Nathan Patterson to have a slower introduction into the first team, but will likely be on the bench for Saturday’s game. You can gather more analysis on these full-back’s from our piece earlier in the week.

What’s my prediction? A closely fought low scoring affair with Everton nicking a single goal win late on. Remember these FA Cup ties do not have replay’s so it will go to penalties if level after 90 minutes and extra-time.