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Hull City earned themselves a priceless three points at Craven Cottage with a smash and grab 1-0 win, thanks to Manucho.

The on-loan Manchester United striker added the finishing touch to a right wing cross from fellow substitute Richard Garcia in stoppage time to break Fulham hearts and ease Hull's relegation fears.

They earned only their second win in 12 league matches thanks in part to keeper Matt Duke, who made several decent saves, as Fulham looked to improve on their impressive home record.

A goalless first half was dominated by the home side in terms of territorial advantage and they went close on a number of occasions, without really making Duke in the Hull goal work too hard.

In fact it was the visitors who had the first chance of the match when Geovanni, seemingly recovered from his incredulity at being subbed at the weekend, set out to make amends early on.

The Brazilian's fierce free-kick from just outside the box had Mark Schwarzer at full stretch, but it flew narrowly wide.

That was about as good as it got for Hull in the first half, as the hosts eased their way into the match with an early effort from Bobby Zamora that Duke was relieved to see finish off target.

Zamora's strike partner Andy Johnson could have got his name onto the score sheet with a diving header after 25 minutes and also when he wriggled clear in stoppage time at then end of the first half, but accuracy was lacking on each occasion.

Fulham piled on the pressure early in the second half, as Andrew Johnson and Clint Dempsey both forced Duke into more saves before Johnson had a header cleared off the line.

Further Duke stops from Paul Konchesky and Dempsey again soon followed, before Hull found their form and a glancing header from Kamil Zayatte crept just wide of Schwarzer's post with a little over five minutes remaining.

Duke saved again from Dempsey as Fulham went all out for the winner, but they were stunned when the visitors hit them with the classic counter attack right at the death to send Hull's fans on the long journey home singing 'we are staying up'.

Sean Calvert / Eurosport