Premier League - Portsmouth stun Hull late on

Eurosport - Sat, 20 Mar 16:55:00 2010

Late strikes from Nwankwo Kanu and Jamie O'Hara saw Portsmouth edge past Hull City 3-2 at Fratton Park.

2009-10 Portsmouth fan John Westwood - 0

Caleb Folan gave the Tigers the lead after 27 minutes from close range before Tommy Smith levelled for the beleaguered hosts ten minutes later.

Folan restored the visitors lead with 17 minutes remaining, but two goals in a minute from Kanu and O'Hara sealed an unlikely victory.

Portsmouth's relegation was all but confirmed by their nine-point deduction for going into administration, and it was the visitors who came closest to opening the scoring in their desperate bid to stay up.

Kevin Kilbane dinked the ball into the far post after four minutes and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's looping header hit the woodwork with David James helpless.

Pompey's Marc Wilson was then just off-target with a free-kick that drifted just outside of Boaz Myhill's post, before Jamie O'Hara tried his luck from distance without testing the Tigers stopper.

Smith and Nadir Belhadj then came close, but it was Hull who took the lead on 27 minutes.

Jimmy Bullard had fired two warnings minutes earlier and when Pompey failed to clear a corner, Craig Fagan thumped the ball goalwards and Folan deflected it past James.

Pompey levelled ten minutes later with an equally scrappy goal.

Frederic Piquionne missed his near post header following a short corner and as the following Hermann Hreidarsson bundled the ball towards goal, Smith poked it home to send the sides in level at the break.

Fagan had the first chance of the second period with a run and shot that flew narrowly over James' bar,

Avram Grant then threw on Kanu in a bid to win the game but it was the Tigers who restored the lead in another scruffy incident.

Referee Phil Dowd blocked a pass and it was Hull who reacted quickest as Rocha switched off and as an incisive pass played in Folan, he slid the ball home for his second of the match.

Wilson and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie both wasted superb opportunities from free-kicks on the edge of the area, but when they were handed another opportunity after Bullard's high foot. O'Hara rifled the ball home.

And Pompey were in dreamland seconds later.

The hosts won the ball back from the kick off, Belhadj raced down the Hull left and his cutback was stroked home by Kanu.

Hull were deflated and despite five minutes of stoppage time, it was Pompey who took the three points to put a smile on a desperate week.

Ian Hare / Eurosport

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. Humblest apologies Dowie syndrome, I said before the­ match we'd win 5-0 but I clearly underestimated­ your brilliant pitch side communication style but­ I'll gladly take 3-2 and 3 points, Sad F*c*

    From D, on Mon 22 Mar 3:41

  2. Dowie's team selection was stupid he left the best­ players on the bench i/e Cooper and Cairney young and­ enthusiastic which is what is required especially at­ the back where half the defence were static just ball­ watching they have to start earning their corn but i­ can't see Dowie doing any better than Brown­ although he did bring Forlan back on the pitch where­ browns ego refused to bend

    From J.A, on Sun 21 Mar 18:05

  3. I remember being at the Emirates the other year when­ Hull narrowly beat us. Had Hull fans on the train on­ the way home giving it the large. I said "well­ done but at least I don't have to go back and live­ in Hull!". Anyway, then the other night they were­ giving it all the "Who are ya?" shouts when­ they equalised through a fortunate pen. Well Hull fans­ - Who are YOU? I'll tell you. You're going DOWN­ big time to where you belong. As for bringing in­ Dowie?! That just confirms it really. Small club with­ small ambitions. Give my regards to the Championship.­ Hope you enjoyed the win at the Emirates that­ you've dined off of SO much since. Welcome (or­ should I say goodbye?) to the Beautiful South. x

    From RichardG, on Sun 21 Mar 13:35

  4. KNS..Goal Goal Pompey

    From greatest06, on Sun 21 Mar 8:00

  5. pgriffiths777 i am with you about diane, dont make dumb­ comments about issues you dont understand, pop off to­ tescos and do some shopping. Where did all the money­ go, thats easy Guydamek took the money, he bought the­ players not the club so when sold he pocketed the cash.­ Basic economics took over from there as the Wembley run­ and Fratton not being big enough could not pay the­ greedy players wages. The one thing as Pompey fans is­ we will stick by our team no matter what and at the end­ of the day we are the club. PLAY UP POMPEY

    From fraser.brown4, on Sun 21 Mar 6:11

  6. as a hull fan, this result made me physicly sick, well­ dont portsmouth bt it was our own fault, we should ave­ held the game. i pray to god iain dowie can do it. i­ want him to prove us all rong, its getting to close for­ me now!

    From woody69615, on Sun 21 Mar 5:44

  7. Pompey a disgrace £78m in debt what about man u about­ £500m in debt liverpool about £200m in debt arsenal not­ enough numbers on keyboard. Silly comments diane , how­ do we become a disgrace having debt. Always knew women­ to stick to knitting and bingo conversations.

    From pgriffiths777, on Sun 21 Mar 3:49

  8. wheres our money gone. Diarra £24,000,000 Defoe­ £15,000,000 Crouch £10,000,000 Jhonson £18,000,000­ Muntari, Krancar, Distin, + more. thats after we won­ the F.A cup, two sellout trips to Wembly with us fans­ as usual loyal as ever. Someones had a result and we­ head closer to the scummers in the fizzy pop league. We­ deserve better. Pompey Pete in Borstal(again). Thinking­ of supporting havant and waterlooville

    From pgriffiths777, on Sun 21 Mar 3:43

  9. dowie is a complete muppet hasnt got a clue

    From Chris, on Sun 21 Mar 1:52

  10. feels sad 4 pompey fans, ye deserve btr dan da greedy­ twats in charge

    From geaniejojo, on Sun 21 Mar 1:19

  11. belhadj is the best

    From hayet, on Sun 21 Mar 1:07

  12. shame about the points deduction , pompey may have been­ able to avoid relegation , still look forward to­ playing you next season in the championship--O.T.B.C

    From the proud brit, on Sun 21 Mar 0:55
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    pompey go away, the club is a disgrace £78 m in debt,­ where is it all gone. I really hoped Pompey would stay­ up, but good riddance, come and join my Luton in the­ Robinsons Jam League !!!!!!

    From Diane, on Sun 21 Mar 0:43
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    pompey go away, the club is a disgrace £78 m in debt,­ where is it all gone. I really hoped Pompey would stay­ up, but good riddance, come and join my Luton in the­ Robinsons Jam League !!!!!!

    From Diane, on Sun 21 Mar 0:43
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    pompey go away, the club is a disgrace £78 m in debt,­ where is it all gone. I really hoped Pompey would stay­ up, but good riddance, come and join my Luton in the­ Robinsons Jam League !!!!!!

    From Diane, on Sun 21 Mar 0:43

  16. Pompey had nothing to lose, they prepared for­ championship next season. So they won. Good job. Hull ?­ Well ... can't say more to this new manager. Bad­ luck for you, Hulls. C u also in champship.

    From Wied, on Sun 21 Mar 0:22

  17. well done portsmouth. nice to see a team still­ fighting even in their circumstances. as for Hull,­ well, this is another example of what happens when you­ change managers this late. I'm not saying Brown­ was good, but the new manager has no time to figure out­ what he has.

    From Jessica, on Sun 21 Mar 0:19

  18. 34.Well Dowie and his troop of mismits have shown what­­ they can do,,,,,,,,,,NOTHING !

    What's Dowie's­­ deal Mr Pearson, can we now send him on gardening­ leave­ and appoint a real manager? ? ?

    DOWIE OUT,­ DOWIE OUT,­ DOWIE OUT ! ! !

    From Interested party, on Sun 21 Mar 0:18

  19. Avram Grant is amazing manager. He can motivate his­ players on a hopeless situation. If he was on the head­ of the team from the beginning and no points were­ taken, Pompey'd have stayed in the PL.

    From mefager1985, on Sun 21 Mar 0:15

  20. WELL DONE POMPEY - PROUD OF YOU !!!

    PLAY UP POMPEY­ !!!

    BERLIN BLUE

    From Tony Guest, on Sun 21 Mar 0:11
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