NO sooner had Hull secured a place in their first ever FA Cup final that manager Steve Bruce began the mind games, insisting “all the pressure’’ will be on Arsenal when they return to Wembley next month.

A decade on from playing in the fourth-tier of English football, the Tigers secured their first major cup final appearance with a thrilling 5-3 defeat of Yorkshire neighbours Sheffield United.

The League One outfit certainly played their part in yesterday’s semi-final and went in at half-time 2-1 ahead, only to be undone by City’s injection of top-flight quality at the break.

Matty Fryatt, Tom Huddlestone, Stephen Quinn and David Meyler all netted in a much-improved second-half display by the Tigers, setting up a return to Wembley on May 17 when Hull will take on the role of underdog against Arsenal.

“If you had said ten years ago that Hull will play Arsenal in the FA Cup final, people would have been scratching their heads,’’ Bruce said. “It just shows you what can be done.

‘‘I’ve been in the competition 15 years and never been anywhere near. I’ve had good fortune being involved in FA Cups and today was a proper FA Cup tie. We don’t see games like that very often at Wembley.

‘‘A bit like last year when it was Wigan versus Man City, Hull play Arsenal. All the pressure will be on Arsenal because they haven’t won anything in years.

‘‘We’ve still got five weeks to go. We will enjoy it, we will enjoy the occasion and gain from the experience of today.’’ That experience was certainly a nerve-wracking one for Hull fans, especially during what Bruce admits was an “awful’’ first-half.

Jose Baxter gave the Blades a deserved 19th-minute lead and, moments after Yannick Sagbo had levelled, Stefan Scougall ensured the thirdtier side went into the break ahead.