Rival managers Nick Barmby and Brian McDermott took opposing views about the legality of Robbie Brady's match-winning strike as Hull moved above play-off rivals Reading in the npower Championship with a 1-0 victory at the Madejski Stadium.
Brady scored the only goal of the game as Hull inflicted a first home defeat on McDermott's side since November. The goal came in the 67th minute as Reading's defenders protested that Brady's strike should have been ruled out.
Jubilant Hull manager Barmby praised a referee's assistant for "a great decision" over the goal, adding: "Aaron McLean was in an offside position but had the foresight not to touch the ball and goalscorer Robbie Brady was definitely onside."
Paul McKenna had sent a pass forward towards McLean, who appeared to be offside, but it was Brady who was first to the ball and he ran forward to slide it past Adam Federici as Reading appealed to the assistant.
Royals boss McDermott shared his opposing view, saying: "Aaron McLean's made a run after the ball so he is active.
"Because he is there our keeper is entitled to say that he didn't know which of their two men was actually going to play the ball."
The win lifted Hull into the top five of the Championship standings - three points above Reading, who slipped to eighth. Barmby added: "We knew it would be tough playing Reading at home. You know they are a good side and are relentless in keeping coming and in working the channels.
"In the first half we rode our luck a couple of times, but in the second half we had a better shape and tried to counter-attack and nick one, which is what we managed to do."
McDermott said: "It was all very frustrating. We didn't play well but we didn't deserve to lose.
"There were not too many scoring attempts by us. We didn't pass the ball well enough and we didn't shut them down. We shouldn't have lost. It should have been a 0-0 draw."
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Sorry Maggie. I will in future spell check my comments don't want the Nazi's coming after me again.
No sour grapes here (Utd) just i know whats right and whats wrong. From the many games that i've watched when an "offside" players makes a run TOWARDS the ball he'd be pulled up for offside now its when you touch the ball?
We have here a manager of a Championship side who never knew the rules changed and has cost his side points.
jollyrodger. Sounds like sour grapes, your comment is as poor as your spelling!
When was this bullcrap rule now he has to touch the ball brought in??? Memo to the rule makers LET EVERYONE ELSE KNOW YOUR CHANGING THE RULES! ffs
It was the best result Brady getting to the ball first because even if McClean was on side and got there first he would have either kicked it straight at the goalie or over the bar while Nick played him up front in a crucial game like away at Reading when he had this so called wonder kid on the bench and left him there until the 84th minute the mind boggles but a win is a win 2-0 would have put us in 4th
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