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Brown salutes Tigers fightback

Sun 10 Feb, 11:15 AM


Phil Brown hailed Hull's spirit after they maintained their interest in the play-off chase by fighting back to draw 2-2 at home to Blackpool.A brace from Paul Dickov put the Seasiders in command of Saturday's Championship clash at the KC Stadium, but goals from substitute Caleb Folan and then Dean Windass secured a point and ensured Hull have now only lost one game in their last nine.

With time running out, Kaspars Gorkss was sent off for a second bookable offence, but Blackpool clung on to secure a deserved point.

"I thought this was a massive potential banana skin, but to get a point after we were 2-0 down shows great character," said Brown.

"We had a couple of half-chances after their sending off, but you have to give the opposition credit for putting us on the back foot earlier on. Dickov showed that little bit of Premier League quality.

"We played some good football in the first half, but it became a bit of a battle in the second."

Brown also said that Bryan Hughes was "okay" after he was carried off on a stretcher wearing a neck brace following an innocuous incident in the first half. The injury caused a lengthy stoppage of several minutes just as the game had settled.

"It was a neck problem, and I don't know the full extent of it yet," Brown added.

"The injury disrupted our rhythm, but our spirit was first class."

Blackpool boss Simon Grayson admitted the final result was "hugely disappointing" after watching his side squander a two-goal advantage.

"We've got a point and we would have settled for one at the start, but it was hugely disappointing to give away a two-goal lead," Grayson said.

"We kept the ball well in the first half, but in the second our retention was not so good.

"However, we have taken four points from games against Hull this season, and they are one of the contenders."

Grayson was also full of praise for 35-year-old Dickov, who is at the Bloomfield Road club on loan from Manchester City for the remainder of the season.

"He's got quality, and an all-round work ethic," Grayson added.

"He showed great anticipation for the first goal and his second was right up there - a goal of Premier League class.

"The other players will learn a lot from him, and he still runs around like an 18-year-old."

Blackpool then snatched the lead when Bo Myhill came to punch a long punt from Stephen Crainey, but was beaten to the ball by Michael Flynn who flicked the ball past the stranded Hull goalkeeper, and Dickov nodded home.

Five minutes into the second half, Blackpool established a two-goal cushion, with Dickov controlling a loose ball 12 yards out, and scoring with an outstanding lob.

After 60 minutes, Fraizer Campbell tricked his way to the byline on the left, and substitute Folan turned home his low cross from three yards.

Hull then had the momentum, and with the visitors pegged back an equalising goal duly arrived after 71 minutes.

Sam Ricketts powered his way to the right byline before looping a cross to the far post, where Windass bundled the ball home.

With seven minutes remaining, Blackpool were reduced to 10 men when Gorkss hacked down Dean Marney and received his second yellow card, but the visitors held on to claim a point.

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