The Tigers can look forward to another FA Cup game for the first time in a while
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
18:48, 12 Jan 2026Updated 18:57, 12 Jan 2026
New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior
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New Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior (Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Hull City's reward for coming through their stodgy third-round tie with Blackburn Rovers is a meeting with former manager Liam Rosenior and his Chelsea team. It was the reunion owner Acun Ilicali had called for, but it won't be happening at Wembley Stadium, rather the MKM Stadium when the Tigers host the Premier League club.
It's a remarkable draw for City, with fate providing the chance for Rosenior to make a return to his former club where he both managed and played. The game will surely be selected for television with the storyline too good for the broadcasters to turn down, especially with the chance of a cup upset on the cards too.
The match is likely to be nothing like the third-round encounter at the weekend. A drab 0-0 draw against Rovers came to life in the penalty shoot-out with Dillon Phillips twice saving from the spot on his home debut before David Akintola slotted in the decisive kick to win their 150th home FA Cup tie.
Before that, Lewie Coyle had seen his kick saved, but Kyle Joseph, Oli McBurnie and Charlie Hughes netted before Nigerian winger Akintola, linked with a move away from the club this month, calmly scored the winner to give Sergej Jakirovic his first shootout victory as a manager.
It was also Acun Ilicali's first cup win of any kind as Tigers owner, as he comes close to the fourth anniversary of his ownership of the East Yorkshire club.
It's the first time since the 2019/20 campaign the Tigers have made it through to the fourth round of the competition, and it means their trip to promotion rivals Ipswich Town on February 14 will be rescheduled.
City collected a cool £121,500 for coming through their tie with Rovers, and should they make it through to the fifth round of the cup, that would be worth £127,000 plus any television revenue, and you'd suspect it will be one of the main games picked.
All the key details, including dates and ticket information for the clash, will be communicated by the Tigers in due course, with the club also expected to confirm a new date for their postponed meeting with Watford which is expected to take place next month.
The tie won't be played on February 14 with Hull FC kicking off their Super League season at home to Bradford Bulls, so the game will be scheduled around that weekend.
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