Sam Clucas and Lazar Markovic lead 10-man Hull past Watford

Updated 22/04/2017 at 16:58 GMT

Premier League, KCOM Stadium - Hull City 2 (Markovic 62, Clucas 71) Watford 0

Sam Clucas of Hull City celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Hull City and Watford at the KCOM Stadium on April 22, 2017 in Hull, England

Image credit: Eurosport

Sam Clucas scored a wondergoal as 10-man Hull beat Watford 2-0 to maintain their two-point cushion above the Premier League relegation zone.

Lazar Markovic gave them a second-half lead, reacting quickest to prod home after he hit the bar with a header from Kamil Grosicki’s cross at the end of a rapid Hull counter-attack.

And less than 10 minutes later Clucas doubled it, controlling a bouncing ball with his chest before firing a crisp strike into the corner of the net from 25 yards.

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Hull had been playing with a man disadvantage since 25 minutes when referee Bobby Madley showed Oumar Niasse a straight red card for a tackle on M’Baye Niang, much to the forward’s disbelief.

Watford dominated much of the match but created few chances and when they did couldn’t beat Eldin Jakupovic, who made two excellent saves to deny Sebastian Prodl and Etienne Capoue from close range.

The win - Marco Silva’s eighth in nine home games since he took charge at Hull - takes them to 33 points, two above Swansea who also won today, while Watford remain tenth with 40 points.

TALKING POINT

Was Niasse hard done by? Despite the result Hull were very unhappy with the referee over Niasse’s red card and you can understand their anger as there was very little contact and the challenge certainly wasn’t a malicious one. However, he did go in studs up and it was reckless.

Oumar Niasse of Hull City is shown a red card during the Premier League match between Hull City and Watford at the KCOM Stadium on April 22, 2017 in Hull, England

Image credit: Getty Images

Ten years ago it would have been written off as a ‘striker’s challenge’ but not today, and Niasse was probably foolish to give the referee a decision to make.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Lazar Markovic (Hull). He took his goal very well, reacting quickest after hitting the bar, and was a real livewire in the second half where Hull looked very dangerous on the break. He might not have a future at Liverpool, but he certainly has one in the Premier League.

KEY MOMENTS

25’ - RED CARD! Niasse catches Niang late and is given his marching orders. He went in studs up, so you can see why Madley sent him off, but the contact was minimal and it certainly didn't look malicious. The home fans are livid.

31’ - SAVE! What a save! Prodl flicks on Holebas' corner from six yards out but Jakupovic makes a terrific reflex stop to tip the ball over the bar.

37’ - CHANCE! Another good opportunity for Watford from a corner and this time Britos sends a free header inches wide from close range.

Lazar Markovic of Hull City scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Hull City and Watford at the KCOM Stadium on April 22, 2017 in Hull, England.

Image credit: Getty Images

60’ - SAVE! A long throw is allowed to bounce in the Hull box and Capoue is then able to shoot on turn from six yards but his shot bounces back off the feet of Jakupovic.

62’ - GOAL! Hull 1-0 Watford (Markovic). From a promising Watford free-kick they break with devastating pace and Grosicki's cross is headed onto the bar by Markovic who reacts quickest and prods home the rebound!

71’ - GOAL! Hull 2-0 Watford (Clucas). What a strike from Clucas! A Hull corner is cleared as far as him, 25 yards from goal, and he controls it with his chest before firing a dipping shot past Gomes. Wow.

PLAYER RATINGS

Hull City: Jakupovic 7, Elmohamady 6, Robertson 7, Maguire 6, Ranocchia 6, N'Diaye 7, Markovic 7, Clucas 7, Grosicki 6, Evandro 5, Niasse . Subs: Hernandez 6, Huddlestone 6, Dawson n/a.

Watford: Gomes 6, Janmaat 6, Britos 5, Prodl 6, Holebas 6, Amrabat 5, Cleverley 6, Doucoure 6, Capoue 6, Niang 6, Deeney 5. Subs: Success 5, Okaka 5, Zuniga 5.