Luer strikes again to see Hull through
Greg Luer showed his liking for the Capital One Cup with his second goal in this season's competition to help Hull progress to the third round with a 1-0 win over Rochdale at the KC Stadium.
Luer had netted in the 2-2 draw at Accrington in the previous round and also stepped up as Hull won that tie on penalties to set up a meeting with Rochdale, who had knocked out Coventry in a shootout.
Hull manager Steve Bruce made wholesale changes but his Sky Bet Championship side always looked in control against their League One opponents and progressed thanks to Luer's neat finish.
Ryan Taylor fired a curling free-kick just over in the fourth minute as Hull bossed the early stages.
The home side made the most of that dominance when Abel Hernandez slid the ball through for Luer and he shot low into the left corner of Josh Lillis' goal after eight minutes.
Reuben Noble-Lazarus had Rochdale's first chance but shot straight at Eldin Jakupovic.
The Tigers nearly went further ahead after 13 minutes when Mohamed Diame, one of nine changes to the Hull side and back from a knee injury which had troubled him since November, slid the ball into the path of Hernandez but he shot narrowly wide.
Hernandez fired over with 20 minutes gone as Hull looked to add a second to try to put the tie beyond their opponents.
Hernandez got back to rob Andrew Cannon as Rochdale made a rare foray into the Hull area just before the half-hour mark. Rochdale wasted the resulting corner.
The visitors won two corners in succession but from the second Cannon headed well over as the first half drew to a close.
Ian Henderson then fired over as Rochdale continued to look for a way back into the tie.
Hernandez should have added to the score in the first minute of the second half but he fired over from Andy Robertson's low cross.
Cannon had a speculative shot from distance but a deflection ensured Jakupovic was not troubled by the effort.
Rochdale's Jamie Allen did well to cut the ball back with 20 minutes remaining but substitute Moses Adubajo cleared the danger.
Rhys Bennett volleyed wide as the visitors again pressed in search of an equaliser, with Hull content to soak up the pressure.
Hernandez again failed to add to the total as he stabbed wide from substitute Ahmed Elmohamady's cross with 15 minutes left but the home side had done enough to progress.
Source: PA
