Premier League - Hull move out of drop zone

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.

FOOTBALL Hull City's Craig Fagan (left) celebrates after he scores his sides equalsing goal against Bolton Premier League 2009 - 0

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.

Seán Fay / Eurosport

Comment 8 - 27 of 47

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  1. 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.

    From saintstephen, on Sat 16 May 9:17PM
  2. bolton turds

    From Colin H, on Sat 16 May 9:12PM
  3. bolton turds

    From Colin H, on Sat 16 May 9:12PM
  4. saintstephen
    hull are going down - fact!

    From cameron w, on Sat 16 May 9:04PM
  5. 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!!!!!!

    From Jedi S, on Sat 16 May 8:11PM
  6. we lad i dont think! just ask your mrs if you got one­ boy!!!

    From stevebullisgod, on Sat 16 May 8:11PM
  7. YAS YE UR GETAN AN ME NARVES NAY FACK AFF WE LAD.

    From donneysbeck, on Sat 16 May 7:47PM
  8. donneysbeck. hit a nerve did i! you have got mental­ problems. go and see to them!

    From stevebullisgod, on Sat 16 May 7:30PM
  9. Hull turds, in your hands now, pity the Bolton bas­ tards are not down, still next season

    From Colin H, on Sat 16 May 7:17PM
  10. @#$% YAR FESH STEVE.

    From donneysbeck, on Sat 16 May 7:15PM
  11. coleman your a @#$% likewise your team!!! Come on Hull­ from an avi BOLTON fan!!!!

    From laivill, on Sat 16 May 7:06PM
  12. donneysbeck. go and plant some trees or something!

    From stevebullisgod, on Sat 16 May 6:38PM
  13. come on hull! im a wolves fan living in goole so would­ love a nice short trip next season!

    From stevebullisgod, on Sat 16 May 6:37PM
  14. A HOPE HULL STAYS OPP OND THaS GARDAYS GO DOON. THEY­ DEsARVE AT. NEWCOSAL THOT AS.

    From donneysbeck, on Sat 16 May 6:32PM
  15. HULL WILL BE A EASY 6 POINTS FOR BIRMINGHAM CITY NEXT­ SEASON

    From richard.arnold15, on Sat 16 May 6:20PM
  16. HULL LOSE AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED, NEWCASTLE UNITED­ DRAW AT VILLA . . . . . . . JOB'S A GOOD UN!

    From cameron w, on Sat 16 May 6:16PM
  17. siangrunewald
    DAFT S(HITE), I WAS SUPPORTING MY TEAM AT­ THE MATCH - WHY THE FKCU WEREN'T YOU AT BOLTON!!!!

    From cameron w, on Sat 16 May 6:15PM
  18. 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!

    From Easyrider2609, on Sat 16 May 6:04PM
  19. Newcastle are going down! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Sam, on Sat 16 May 5:50PM
  20. 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??

    From Sian, on Sat 16 May 5:25PM
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