Premier League - Hull survive despite defeat

Eurosport - Mon, 25 May 08:00:00 2009

Hull City escaped relegation from the Premier League despite losing 1-0 at home to champions Manchester United.

2008-2009 Hull City celebrate staying in the Premier League - 0

Darron Gibson's first-half screamer meant Hull had to rely on Newcastle losing at Aston Villa, which they duly did.

Phil Brown's side retained their top-flight status despite a run of only two wins in 29 matches. Their total of 35 points was the lowest for any team outside the bottom three since West Bromwich Albion in 2004/05, who survived with 34.

Hull's autumn form, which saw them briefly in contention for a Champions League place, proved decisive and their jubilant fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle.

As widely expected, Alex Ferguson rested all of the players who will take part in Wednesday's Champions League final against Barcelona.

While Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney put their feet up at the other end of the M62, the likes of Ritchie de Laet, Danny Welbeck and Lee Martin got a rare run-out.

There was at least some experience at the back with Gary Neville and Wes Brown at centre-back and Rafael da Silva on the right.

It was the home side who made the early running, winning several corners and innumerable throw-ins on the right side, flung into the box by Sam Ricketts.

For all their pressure, Hull failed to force goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak into a meaningful save as United dealt relatively easy with the home side's set-pieces.

Nani, a £15 million arrival at Old Trafford two summers ago, will be disappointed not to be involved in Rome after a desperately poor season.

He did his best to emulate his Portuguese countryman Ronaldo, unleashing a flurry of flicks and pirouettes, not to mention some Ronaldo-esque displays of self-pity after giving the ball away.

The winger got United's first shot on target with a free-kick, but it was left for Gibson to show him how it is done from long range on 24 minutes.

Gibson received a low pass from Federico Macheda, Hull did not close him down and he punished them, lashing a diagonal 30-yarder into the right corner. Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill may feel he should have got to it, but the Irishman's strike was pure and powerful.

Macheda and Welbeck both threatened to double the lead but both shot wide after good approach play.

At the other end Michael Turner headed over while Andy Dawson tested Kuszczak with a rasping long-range effort.

United dominated the second half, with Hull's supporters seemingly resigned to the fact that their best chance of survival was to keep an ear to the radio and hope Newcastle did not score.

The home side's only chances came in quick succession on 53 minutes when Kuszcak blocked a flying Nicky Barmby header, then saved a Turner header from the resultant corner.

Otherwise play belonged to the visitors, although they carved out relatively few clear chances.

One such opportunity fell to Macheda when Martin played him clean through down the left channel, but the Italian blazed his shot over.

The closing stages were surreal as Hull allowed United to knock easy passes around unchallenged.

Why nobody bothered to apply any pressure is a mystery, sunny day or not. The supporters seemed not to notice as they were glued to their transistor radios for news from Villa Park.

In the end it did not matter as Hull's performances over their first nine games proved enough to earn them another season in the top flight.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

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  1. Yes well you live to fight another day hull, and­ deservedly so.
    We at NUFC simply weren't good­ enough and had no stomach for the fight; relegated and­ no complaints here as in all honesty we deserve to­ go.
    It is a mammoth task awaiting whoever takes over;­ could take several years to get back - but we must take­ it on the chin, move on and rise above it.
    Full of­ admiration for Shearer and S'bragia following their­ post-match interviews; thay both showed class and­ dignity - humility is an admirable quality, something­ the clown brown, and a few on here need to­ realise.
    Brown, 'This is the greatest thing­ i've ever done!' - (35 points WILL get you­ relegated next season.)
    Says it all really!
    For the­ majority of the 'decent' hull city fans . .­ .good on you, i'm chuffed for you all and good luck­ for next season.

    From cameron w, on Mon 25 May 3:31PM

  2. Congratz

    From Nath, on Mon 25 May 2:19PM

  3. hull u lucky beggars if only boro could have been as­ good as your team but nor they were a load of @#$%

    From smiley123, on Mon 25 May 1:32PM

  4. Phil Brown is a clown, did you see him celebrating with­ the champagne and the singing? wot a muppet. Hull`s­ record since the bug eyed tits publicity stunt at Man­ city has been diabolical they stayed up by the skin of­ their teeth.
    Everybody loved Hull at the beginning of­ the season but the way Brown has seeked the limelight­ has pi55ed a lot of people off with his stupid­ microphone and leather jacket and his behaviour at the­ Emirates was a disgrace.
    Get rid of Brown or def go­ down next year.

    From johnriceyrice, on Mon 25 May 9:10AM

  5. People are talking about Hull City as if it is a­ discrace for them to stay up. Tigers fans are moaning­ about the lack of talent in the team. This may be true­ but I remember watching City playing in the old 4th­ Division against the likes of Mansfiled and that was­ cr*p.

    Of course they need to strengthen the sqad and­ get rid of Boeteng, Marney, Folan etc but we can­ attract the likes of Frazer Campbell now we are staying­ up.
    Yeh Phil Brown is a bit of a t!t but so are a lot­ of managers.

    Enjoy it while it is there because it­ won't last.

    From Get rid of the Lords, on Mon 25 May 9:04AM

  6. I discorvered a hot place
    ------Wealth y F inder C o­ M------ where many sexy singles- who like dating and--­ chatting there. I'm an open- minded girl with­ s---exual a--ttraction and big b---oobs. I-- am ­ Waiting 4 u

    From sexyfishfghh, on Mon 25 May 8:57AM

  7. Paul H--- Hull City stayed up because they gained MORE­ points than Newcastle, Middleborough and the­ Baggies.
    Is that difficult for you to understand?
    The­ reason that Ricky Sbragia resigned is because­ Sunderland fans are total tw*ts, Newcastle fans are­ total tw*ts as well

    Good on the Tigers

    From Get rid of the Lords, on Mon 25 May 8:56AM

  8. WHEN MR BROWN STOPS SPITTING HIS DUMMY OUT,AND,­ REALISES,HE IS A MEMBER OF THE SQAD NOT A ONE MAN­ TEAM.HE GOT RID OF WINDAS BECAUSE HE GAVE HIS OPINION­ AND ASK WHY...LEARN SOME TACK MR BROWN,OR YOU WILL BE­ DOWN AND GONE LIKE THE TIGERS..

    From b h, on Mon 25 May 8:55AM

  9. unless there are wholsale changes at the club, and this­ could be right to the top, yes this means you phil the­ showman Brown we will drop like a stone again next­ season. Get rid of the dross like every striker, so­ called, that we have. Folan, cousin, fagan all rubbish.­ Garcia,france,marney and mendy go too with the old man­ boatang leading the exit. No passion or talent from­ them yesterday,10 mins to go and they looked totally­ uninterested. Some new youth and some quality­ experienced players, if Brown dare, they may question­ his rubbish tactics and squad selection. Duffen knows­ nothing about football and has long pockets and short­ arms. Well done to the lads and thanks Villa. phew my­ god am I glad its all done and dusted.

    From Lee T66, on Mon 25 May 8:23AM

  10. Hull will be going down next year they were just VERY­ lucky this year!!

    From B, on Mon 25 May 8:14AM

  11. in war after a defeat an army will regroup and look at­ their strategies and tactics..its the same for­ newcastle hopefully in the championship they will learn­ and HOPEFULLY come back ready to do battle as a­ stronger team (i know im a bit of dreamer but surely­ this time the winds of change will happen)

    From steven g, on Mon 25 May 8:02AM

  12. Hull has indeed survived despite the loss to Utd.But be­ mindful that there will be nobody to fight for you next­ season, you will just need to fight for yourself.

    From gamamphatso, on Mon 25 May 8:02AM

  13. Well done to Hull City for staying up but that was­ largely down to the ineptitude of the teams below them­ than to Hull's exploits. Fifteen points in their­ last 29 matches (2 wins, 9 draws, 18 defeats) is­ bottom-of-the-table form so Phil Brown will have to­ spend money on quality players if they're going to­ stay up next season.
    The match against United's­ reserve team proved Hull's weakness and also showed­ the awesome power of United's squad. It's going­ to take an exceptionally good team to wrest the title­ away from United next season. It won't be Chelski­ 'cause they'll need to rebuild their team, and­ even Liverpool will only be the closest challengers­ again if they can strengthen their squad so they­ won't have to rely on Gerrard and Torres all the­ time.

    From Dino, on Mon 25 May 8:01AM

  14. Well Done hull, I am sure you will get relegated next­ season (I DONT WANT) I want hull to stay in the Premier­ League for 2-3 seasons, I dont think Hull will get on­ very well with Birmingham or wolves etc

    From Nath, on Mon 25 May 7:46AM

  15. Now we have to listen to Phil Brown's delusions for­ another season. Bummer

    From tom h, on Mon 25 May 7:35AM

  16. SHOULD OF GIVEN BIG SAM TIME...NO BUT NEWCASTLE FA NS­ LIVE ON FANTASY ISLAND...KING KEV?

    From lewis, on Mon 25 May 7:34AM

  17. well done hull,
    lol I lov it those idiots from Syd­ James park can finally realise there club is @#$% and­ living in the past when Jackie milburn was playing!!

    From Wayne, on Mon 25 May 7:07AM

  18. youthful is fruitful!! congratulations to Hull for­ surviving in EPL..

    From Ben, on Mon 25 May 4:41AM

  19. youthful is fruitful!! congratulations to Hull for­ surviving in EPL..

    From Ben, on Mon 25 May 4:41AM

  20. I forgot to say that, whilst supporting Silverman with­ his comments about it being just that Newcastle were­ relegated, I don't agree with his remarks about­ Shearer. I don't think that we should doubt that­ there was nobody more committed tot he task of keeping­ Newcastle up than Shearer, and I read into his reaction­ afterwards as being somebody who was deeply upset about­ things but who didn't wish to show his emotions­ Stiff upper lip - that sort of thing. Martin Johnson­ took a while to find his feet in the England management­ setup in rugby and now he seems to be pulling things­ around. Perhaps, Shearer is what is needed to get­ Newcastle back up quickly but a lot of work is­ required. Congrats to Hull and Sunderland. I have to­ say, that as long as Middlesborough keep Southgate,­ they look a better prospect to bounce straight back up­ rather than their rivals up the coast.

    From Roger B, on Mon 25 May 4:00AM
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