Eurosport - Sat, 16 May 18:38:00 2009
Hull City moved out of the Premier League relegation zone after picking up a valuable 1-1 draw with Bolton at the Reebok Stadium.
However, they were denied all three points by Jussi Jaaskelainen as the Bolton keeper made two class saves in the final ten minutes.
Gretar Steinsson gave Bolton the lead midway through the first half but Craig Fagan (pictured) levelled matters just after the break.
The visitors then had their chances to pick up only their second win in 21 games but they could not find a way past Jaaskelainen.
Nevertheless with Newcastle losing at home to Fulham, the point was enough to see Phil Brown's side climb out of the bottom three with just one match remaining - a home fixture against already crowned champions Manchester United.
Hull were lively in the opening stages but while they were getting plenty of good crosses into the box they were not able to force Jaaskelainen into a significant early save.
It was from one of their own attacks that they went behind in the 26th minute as they were hit by a quick Bolton counter-attack.
Fabrice Muamba was eventually found in the box - he checked the ball back to Matthew Taylor whose poor effort was blocked; however, it then fell to Steinsson on the right edge of the area and he drilled a low effort into the opposite corner of the net.
Boaz Myhill got a hand onto that shot, and while it was far from an easy save, he will be disappointed he couldn't push it wide.
Hull had a great chance to level just seconds after that goal but Manucho blazed over the bar from close range after a Sam Ricketts cut back. Nick Barmby then headed wide as a cross came to him quickly at the back post.
However, it was Bolton who came closest to scoring before the end of the half with Gary Cahill's header cleared off the line by Fagan in stoppage time.
After the break Bolton had an immediate chance to double their lead but Muamba made a mess of a low cross from Kevin Davies and they were immediately punished at the other end.
Danny Shittu has to take a large chunk of blame for the equaliser, he could not get the ball under control while facing goal which allowed Fagan to muscle past him and fire past Jaaskelainen.
In the 68th minutes Fagan needed to clear off the line once again after Manucho mistakenly put a Bolton corner towards his own goal, while just two minutes later Barmby's half-volley hit the post as the match developed into an end-to-end contest.
However, in the final 10 minutes it was Hull who looked most likely to secure a winner - Manucho's header in the 81st minute looked destined for the net but Jaaskelainen somehow managed to push it up onto the crossbar.
Just two minutes later the Finn made another superb contribution to deny Fagan with a header.
Still a draw was perhaps a fair result given the overall balance of the play and that point could prove enough for Hull to secure their Premier League future.
Comment 8 - 27 of 47
Hmmm... cameron w a Newcastle fan eh? I'd rather be in Hull's position rather than Newcastle's don't you think? Too little too late me duck - ta-ta maybe see you in a season.
bolton turds
bolton turds
saintstephen
hull are going down - fact!
to easyrider2609
totally agree with you! I dont think phil brown is much of a motivator of men or anything like a master tactician,he destroys belief and I think he has been our hardest opponent all season!Come on Hull city players use belief and forget brown you can do it!!!!!!
we lad i dont think! just ask your mrs if you got one boy!!!
YAS YE UR GETAN AN ME NARVES NAY FACK AFF WE LAD.
donneysbeck. hit a nerve did i! you have got mental problems. go and see to them!
Hull turds, in your hands now, pity the Bolton bas tards are not down, still next season
@#$% YAR FESH STEVE.
coleman your a @#$% likewise your team!!! Come on Hull from an avi BOLTON fan!!!!
donneysbeck. go and plant some trees or something!
come on hull! im a wolves fan living in goole so would love a nice short trip next season!
A HOPE HULL STAYS OPP OND THaS GARDAYS GO DOON. THEY DEsARVE AT. NEWCOSAL THOT AS.
HULL WILL BE A EASY 6 POINTS FOR BIRMINGHAM CITY NEXT SEASON
HULL LOSE AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED, NEWCASTLE UNITED DRAW AT VILLA . . . . . . . JOB'S A GOOD UN!
siangrunewald
DAFT S(HITE), I WAS SUPPORTING MY TEAM AT THE MATCH - WHY THE FKCU WEREN'T YOU AT BOLTON!!!!
Bolton just threw Hull a leaky lifeboat? The cricism aimed at Phil Brown is because he continually played down the problems, seemed to do very little to eleviatethem and generally acted as if he had just suddenly woken up to find he was in the wrong film! How else do you explain the complete turn around of Tigers fortunes? With careful handling, even with bad buys lioke Bullard, the points total should have reached 38/40!
Newcastle are going down! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cameron w(anker)....everyone wants the toon army down..and frankly you are rubbish...you have far better players than us(hull) and you're still rubbish...you deserve to go down...and frankly you spend far too much time on this site cameron..shouldn't you be supporting your team at the match??
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