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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Southampton 0-0 Hull: Eldin Jakupovic saves late penalty to preserve valuable point

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Eldin Jakupovic saved a stoppage-time penalty to ensure Hull picked up a priceless point in their relegation battle after a 0-0 draw with Southampton at St Mary’s.

With the game heading for a stalemate, Southampton were given the chance to earn a somewhat undeserved victory in stoppage time, but Dusan Tadic saw his penalty saved by Jakupovic.

There was little other goalmouth action of note in the match, with Kamil Grosicki coming closest for the visitors early on as his free-kick hit the post.

The result sees Hull pull three points clear of the bottom three, with Swansea in 18th playing on Sunday at Manchester United, and condemns Sunderland to Championship football next season. Saints stay ninth.

An unchanged Hull were slightly the better side in a poor first half, and almost took the lead as early as the sixth minute. Grosicki curled a delightful free-kick over the wall towards the top corner, but the ball clipped the outside of the post and flew wide.

The hosts really struggled to find any rhythm, and did not muster a single shot on or off target in the opening period.

After the break, the action remained a little cagey. Harry Maguire was having a fine game for Hull, however, and made a crucial late block to deny Sofiane Boufal early in the second half.

Tadic then went close with a volley, before all the entertainment came in the final 10 minutes.

Firstly, Jakupovic made amends for a poor punch by racing out to block from Redmond, before Oumar Niasse blazed over from a good position down the other end.

Then, just seconds into stoppage time, Alfred N’Diaye clumsily bundled Maya Yoshida to the floor, leaving referee Mike Dean no option other than to point to the spot.

Tadic stepped up confidently, struck the penalty low to Jakupovic’s left, but the Hull stopper superbly clawed the ball out and away from danger.

Substitute Michael Dawson missed a late header that would have completed a most dramatic final flurry, but Saints held on for the draw.

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Sourced from ESPN FC article

Southampton vs. Hull City - Football Match Report - April 29, 2017 - ESPN

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Shaka Hislop breaks down the bottom six in the Premier League, but who joins Sunderland in the Championship next year? (2:49)

Eldin Jakupovic’s late penalty save handed Hull another boost in their Premier League survival fight but also condemned Sunderland to relegation.

Hull pulled off a gritty goalless draw at Southampton, with Jakupovic palming away Dusan Tadic’s late spot kick as the visitors held out for a potentially priceless point.

Hull’s point, coupled with Sunderland’s 1-0 home loss to Bournemouth, ensured Marco Silva’s men edged closer to top-flight safety - and cemented the Black Cats’ slip through the trap door.

Just as a low-quality affair at St Mary’s appeared to be petering out to a dull finish, Alfred N’Diaye hauled down Maya Yoshida in the box.

Tadic lined up the penalty, only for Jakupovic to guess right, and palm the ball to safety.

Portuguese boss Silva has now guided Hull to 21 points from his 15 league games at the helm, and that transformation could yet be enough to save his side from the drop.

Hull now host David Moyes’ Sunderland next weekend, where they will be desperate for a victory that could propel their safety charge still further.

Southampton were booed off the field by a justifiably disgruntled home contingent.

The interval handed Saints the chance to shout themselves into something resembling urgency, but not even the hackneyed half-time hurry-up had the desired effect.

Sofiane Boufal tried to tiptoe through traffic rather than blast in a half-volley, and paid the price when Harry Maguire pounced with a crucial intercept.

Tadic saw a shot deflected when he ought to have laid off to the lurking Boufal then Nathan Redmond shot lazily over from 20 yards, ignoring the Serbian’s fine run.

The desperate Saints boss Claude Puel clutched at the straws of substitutions, only to be booed by his own fans for hooking Manolo Gabbiadini just shy of the hour.

The Italian hitman feeds off chances created by his team-mates, but was forced to endure a puzzling famine in this miserable encounter.

Shane Long should have pulled the trigger when through on goal, but his inside flick again allowed Maguire to come to Hull’s rescue.

Hull’s indomitable centre half produced yet another telling challenge when sliding in to ensure Redmond’s low cross could not reach the lurking Tadic.

Oumar Niasse wasted a rare opening for the visitors when blasting over from the edge of the area as the game drifted towards the close - only for a madcap final few minutes that left Saints frustrated and Hull breathing sighs of relief.

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Sourced from The Independent article

Eldin Jakupovic save gives Hull survival hope and relegates Sunderland

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If Hull City are to avoid relegation this season, they will point to Eldin Jakupovic’s last minute penalty save against Southampton as one of the decisive moments in their battle to stay out of the bottom three.

Having worked hard to secure a deserved point, Hull appeared to have undone all the good work of the previous 90 minutes when Alfred N’Diaye was adjudged by referee Mike Dean to have pulled Maya Yoshida to the ground as the striker attempted to reach Ryan Bertrand’s left-wing cross. Dusan Tadic stepped up to take the penalty and drilled a low shot towards the bottom corner that was pushed to safety by Jakupovic who dived full length to his left to save.

It was a huge let-off for Hull and the kind of moment that can change the pattern of a season. Instead of once again failing to get anything from their travels – Hull had secured just one point away from home in seven away games since Marco Silva took charge in January – the Yorkshire club extended their advantage over Swansea City in 18th place to three points ahead of the Welsh club’s visit to Manchester United on Sunday.

The penalty save meant so much more for Sunderland though, as the Black Cats were relegated due to Hull’s point opening up a 13-point gap between the two sides with David Moyes’ side only able to win a maximum of 12.

It could have been more had Oumar Niasse not seen a close range effort cleared off the line by Cedric Soares moments after Jakupovic’s save but Silva and his players were grateful to settle for the point having been on the brink of defeat.

Hull’s hopes had been strengthened midweek when they learned the club’s appeal against Niasse’s dismissal in last week’s victory against Watford had been overturned. The forward, on-loan from Everton, was sent off following a challenge on M’Baye Niang and would have been forced to miss three of his side’s last four games had the decision been upheld.

Reprieved, Niasse quickly demonstrated his value to Silva’s side, providing an effective focal point for the visitors’ early attacking moves that unsettled a Southampton team who were apparently unable to maintain the standards they set at Chelsea last Tuesday.

Claude Puel’s side had lost 4-2 at Stamford Bridge but their overall performance suggested they had not switched off for the season despite having long been assured of a mid-table finish. Four days on, they struggled to develop momentum and while a low cross by Cedric Soares caused uncertainty in the Hull penalty area, it was the visitors who carried the greater threat with Niasse and Kamilm Grosicki causing particular problems for the home back four.

Niasse capped a direct run with a well-weighted pass that released Grosicki on the right hand side of the Southampton area from where he shot into the side netting. The Poland international came closer still moments later after Lazar Markovic had won a free-kick in a central area, 20 yards from goal. Grosicki curled the free-kick over the defensive wall and against Fraser Forster’s sight hand post with the goalkeeper rooted in the middle of his goal.

It was a scrappy first half with few clear opportunities but one that better suited Hull who worked hard to disrupt Southampton although their qualities of determination and application were not enough to force the breakthrough.

It was unlikely Southampton would play as poorly in the second period and early break, again led by Soares, suggested Puel had used to half-time break to inject some life and urgency into his players. The ball broke from Soares’ cross and fell at the feet of Sofiane Boufal who was on the point of shooting when Harry Maguire intervened with an expertly timed challenge that cleared the danger.

That, though, was a rare moment of enterprise from the home side and Puel wasted little time before making a double change, introducing Shane Long and Josh Sims. Hull’s attacking efforts were similarly limited and they efforts became increasingly focused on defending a point. Jakupovic’s heroics ensured they succeeded in their aim.

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

“It wasn’t enough for us.”

@MayaYoshida3 on #SaintsFC’s stalemate with #HCAFC in the #PL: http://sfcne.ws/MYonHCAFC

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 29/04/2017 20:12:52

| | Southampton 0-0 Hull: Jakupovic the hero in late PK dramaNBCSPORTS |
| | CITYINDEPENDENT |
| | Hull City ratings: Oumar Niasse kept quiet as Eldin Jakupovic saves the day in SouthamptonYORKSHIREPOST |
| | Southampton 0-0 Hull CityCLUBCALL |
|

| Tadic misses late penalty in draw with HullSTMARYSMUSINGS |
| | Southampton 0 Hull City 0: Eldin Jakupovic’s heroics gain Tigers valuable pointYORKSHIREPOST |
| | Chelsea looking to buy back Ryan Bertrand from SouthamptonTHEHARDTACKLE |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Cédric: It’s disappointing

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Dušan Tadić had the opportunity to seal all three points with a penalty in the dying second of the game, though his shot was well saved by Eldin Jakupović.

“It’s disappointing,” he explained.

“We had a bit of a low intensity today. We got in good positions but I felt we could have done more in our performance.

“It was not an easy game. Hull City were well organised and are a much better team now and playing well, but we could have done more.”

Today’s fixture marked Cédric’s 50th Premier League appearance for Saints, and the Portuguese was delighted to reach such a landmark.

“It’s a pleasure for me,” he continued.

“To play here as well in front of our own fans who always give both me and the team great support - unfortunately we weren’t able to return that today.

“Obviously I am very happy with what I have achieved but I always want to continue to achieve more."

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Sourced from Daily Star article

Southampton 0 Hull 0: Eldin Jakupovic saves late penalty to keep survival hopes alive

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Eldin Jakupovic saved a penalty to deny Southampton the three points

Dusan Tadic’s 89th-minute effort from 12 yards for Southampton was struck hard and true - and was destined for the bottom corner.

But the lanky figure of Swiss stopper Jakupovic had other ideas as he flung himself full stretch to claw away the Serb’s strike. What a stop it was!

And that was enough to earn what may still turn out to be a priceless point come the end of the season – one worth its weight in gold for Hull and their miracle-worker boss Marco Silva.

Following this goalless draw on the south coast, Hull stand three points clear of 18th-place Swansea, who face a tough trip to Manchester United.

But perhaps more significant is that next up for the Tigers come doomed Sunderland – at their fortress KC Stadium.

The fact they have taken 19 points from a possible 21 at home under Portuguese coach Silva should make victory a formality against David Moyes’ Wearsiders – relegated after failing to better Hull’s result.

There is a flip side, however. For in many ways, the visitors will be kicking themselves for blowing a brilliant opportunity at St Mary’s.

Had they managed to end their appalling away form – against a Southampton side with nothing to play for– they could have been FIVE points ahead of fellow- strugglers Swansea.

Ahead of this crunch clash, they had picked up a paltry point from the last 21 available on their travels.

Nine scored in 18 away dates is the worst total in the top flight. At the other end they have leaked a thumping 41 goals.

Little wonder, then, the travelling fans were celebrating wildly at the end despite the fact they still have not won at Southampton since 1951.

Confidence in the camp could scarcely have been higher after their fantastic 2-0 victories over Watford seven days earlier when Hull played for an hour with only ten men.

Sitting safely in mid-table obscurity, the Saints’ only aim or the rest of the season was to finish inside the top ten.

But one win in their previous five home games suggested Claude Puel’s troops, ninth before kick, might be there for the taking.

Having successfully appealed Oumar Niasse’s ridiculous red card against Watford, Silva had the luxury of naming an unchanged Hull line-up.

And they certainly began brightly with their ability to hit on the counter attack evident after only three minutes.

A lightning break from back to front resulted in Kamil Grosicki flashing a shot into the sidenetting.

If Saints keeper Fraser Forster looked a tad worried there, two minutes later he was mighty relieved when confronted by a free-kick from the same Hull playmaker.

This time Polish international Grosicki went even closer as his 20-yard curler evaded the wall before smacking the upright. Forster never moved.

No shots on target summed up the Saints’ meandering 45 minutes, which left their supporters delivering a chorus of disapproval at the break.

Puel must have gone nuts at the changeover –and whatever rockets he delivered to his players, they definitely had an impact.

Marco Silva was appointed manager of Hull in January following Mike Phelan’s dismissal

Southampton controlled the second half pretty much from start to finish. However, despite loads of possession and a string of half chances, they could not find a way past Hull’s brave, resilient rearguard action.

That’s why as we entered the final seconds, the Saints still had nothing to show for their superiority.

But that looked set to change when referee Mike Dean noticed Alfred N’Diaye’s shove into the back of Saints sub Shane Long - and immediately pointed to the spot.

It seemed all Hull’s hard graft was about to go to waste.

But that was to discount the athletic ability of Jakupovic to deny Tadic’s effort with a truly magnificent save.

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Puel: We need to do better

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Southampton boss Claude Puel acknowledged his team didn’t play well against Hull as they drew 0-0 in the Premier League.

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Sourced from The Telegraph article

Southampton 0 Hull City 0: Eldin Jakupovic saves stoppage-time penalty to earn visitors crucial point

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The unflappable Marco Silva discovered that there is one referee virtually guaranteed to make even the mildest of men lose their tempers, and on this occasion it would be fair to say that Mike Dean took the Hull City manager right to the brink.

The penalty Dean awarded against Hull in the last regulation minute of the game threatened to deny Hull a rare and precious away point in what is starting to look like a miraculous survival season and Silva was furious. Were it not for Eldin Jakupovic’s fine save down low to his left from Dusan Tadic’s spot-kick then the Hull manager would surely have struggled to control his emotions but in the end he could celebrate a draw that takes his club three points clear of the relegation zone.

In the aftermath, Silva politely advanced the theory that he did not believe it was a penalty when Alfred N’Diaye and Maya Yoshida collided in the area, and he also said that for the sake of consistency if that qualified as a foul then there were others Hull could cite against them.

One was a grapple that involved Harry Maguire and then in the dying seconds Oumar Niasse had his shirt pulled in the Southampton area as the striker connected with a header that was cleared off the line by Cedric Soares.

“There was a similar situation in the other box and the referee didn’t give it,” Silva said. “I wasn’t happy but then there was a big save from Eldin. I wouldn’t say it’s like a victory but it’s important because we didn’t deserve to lose. It gives us more confidence because we have changed our away form now.”

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Fleming: It was a harsh result

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The Saints youngsters suffered a 2-0 defeat against the league leaders, who Fleming felt were just more clinical on the day.

“I think it was a little harsh on the boys today,” he started.

“In parts we played well and created a couple of chances against a good team, but we just weren’t able to take those.

“On the other hand, Wolves had three chances and scored, so that was the difference today.”

Three players from the Under-16s set-up travelled with Fleming’s men to Birmingham to take on Wolves.

And he was pleased to see Christian Norton and Daniel Bartlett play a part in the closing stages of the match.

“It was good for the young lads to come in,” he continued.

“Ultimately that is the next step for them to come up and play with us, so they will grow from experiences like today.

“A couple of them have had experiences with us already so it is not completely new to them.”

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Yoshida: I understand the frustration

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Saints’ best chance of the afternoon came when Yoshida was pulled down in the penalty area late on, though Dušan Tadić’s resulting spot-kick was saved.

“We had to win today,” Yoshida started.

“It wasn’t enough for us, for sure, and I understand the frustration after the game from the supporters because that is also how we feel.

“It was a great penalty from Dušan at the end but also a great save from the goalkeeper, sometimes these things happen. We should have scored before.”

Yoshida hit a personal milestone during the tie with the Tigers, as he chalked off his 100th appearance in the Premier League.

The centre back is the first Japanese player to reach that number.

“It’s taken me five years!” he continued.

“It’s a small step for just one small player but a big step for Japanese football. Hopefully someone will beat my record in the future.

“I am still only 28 so hopefully I can play more and more. I really appreciate everyone who looks after me and works with me here.”

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

“We weren’t able to take the chances we created.”

Craig Fleming on #SaintsFCU18s’ defeat away to #WWFC: http://sfcne.ws/CFonWWFCU18s

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 29/04/2017 21:13:00

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| Hull City boss laments Mike Dean after Southampton drawSHOOTCOUK |
| | Jakupovic penalty save inches Hull closer to safetyNEWSTRAITSTIMES |

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Video: Puel on Hull draw

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Sourced from ESPN FC article

DEFAULTDusan Tadic and toothless Southampton denied by resilient Hull

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Puel: We were poor

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The sides played out a goalless draw at St Mary’s, although Saints had a glorious chance to win it in added time, only for Dušan Tadić’s penalty to be saved by Tigers keeper Eldin Jakupović.

“It’s the same feeling as the fans, the players and the staff, because it’s two points lost,” said Puel of his emotions after the match.

"Our game was too poor today, without the good intensity, the good rhythm of the passes, without the possibility to find the good space and the good situations.

"We were too slow – too slow to take the decisions, to take the good information, to play good football and it was simply not enough today.

"It’s a good lesson, because if we didn’t give the good intensity of the game, with good quality and good pressing, it’s not possible to win.

"We can say with the penalty we could have won the game in the end, but I don’t know if we deserved to win this game.

“A draw is normal, because Hull City played well, with intensity, with quality and good organisation. They are a strong defensive unit, and for us it was not enough.”

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Our gallery from #SaintsFC’s disappointing 0-0 draw with #HCAFC: http://sfcne.ws/GalleryHullH

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Sourced from A tweet by BBCMOTD tweet

@BBCMOTD - Match of the Day

Southampton have now won just two of their last eight Premier League home games.

What’s going on, #SAINTSFC fans?… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/858433941925134337

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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Video: Yoshida on Hull draw

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Sourced from Sky Sports article

Southampton 0-0 Hull

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Phil Thompson gives his reaction to Southampton’s 0-0 draw against Hull.

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