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. Saw - If Silverman is a Tit then, as a Coventry City­ supporter, I guess that makes him a Blue Tit. You on­ the other hand must be a member of the Great Tit­ family.
    I agree with Silverman in that, the table­ doesn't lie and Newcastle deserve to go down.­ Considering their plight, I can't remember seeing­ such a spineless, gutless performance from a team in­ their desperate situation. I tell you something else as­ well, the Championship is a very competitive league and­ on the basis of what I've seem from Newcastle this­ season, they could well struggle there as well - they­ are currently that bad!
    I don't really blame­ Shearer as they were probably doomed before he took­ over, but to expect a rookie to get them out of the­ mess they found themselves in, has proven to be another­ misguided decision. I think that collectively, the­ Newcastle board from (and primarily because of) the­ Chairman down, to managers, players and supporters,­ have to take responsibility for what's happened.­ Many of the fans have to be included because they held­ their teem in too high esteem and didn't settle for­ what they had at the time - an average Premiership team­ and thought they had a divine right to grace the higher­ reaches of the league. Well, this is the reality.

    From Roger B, on Mon 25 May 3:41AM

  2. silverman, you are a tit. Shearer was given 8 games to­ save Newcastle. How many games was Coleman given with­ your lot and he still did nothing. Don't start to­ criticise Newcastle or Shearer for a second. Shearer­ was asked to do the impossible and came very close to­ doing it. Coventry could lay for another 10 seasons­ and will stll eb were they are now and that is nowhere.­ Well done Coventry. Winning the Championship must be­ great not that you will ever know.

    From sav, on Mon 25 May 3:11AM

  3. What can i say, so much for Shearer being the saviour­ of newcastle, my god i have seen more emotion from a­ bus. In fairness it does not like he gave a s**t. I am­ a COVENTRY CITY FOOTBALL CLUB supporter and i have more­ passion in my little toe. At the end of the day the­ clubs that got relegated got what they deserved. though­ i do feel for Gareth Southgate and Tony Mowbray i have­ no symphoty for Shearer. I would not be suprised that­ if you look up the word arrogance in the dictionary, it­ would mention him, fair deuce to hull for battling on,­ that was spirit is defined by, will and inner belief.­ Also a big congrats to Sunderland, every Corkmans­ favourite 2nd team, if not 1st. Roll on the SKY BLUES,­ LOVE THIS MIGHTY CLUB FOREVER, watch us give it a fair­ bash next year, with half an Irish based team. ­ IRELAND FOR THE WORLD CUP, see­ you there

    From silverman, on Mon 25 May 1:51AM

  4. barbraphillit , learn to spell in a correct diction.

    From antoni50, on Mon 25 May 1:39AM

  5. that reserve team would have troubled most top flight­ teams , no doubt

    From antoni50, on Mon 25 May 1:36AM

  6. it wasn't a full strength team, what do you expect­ if you're in the ucl final on wednesday. but maybe­ you wouldn't know about the decisions SAF makes,­ you had 38 games to ensure that & you're a­ lucky team as 1 or 2 other additions would have sent­ you down. lucky ,not good .

    From antoni50, on Mon 25 May 1:30AM

  7. it wasn't a full strength team, what do you expect­ if you're in the ucl final on wednesday. but maybe­ you wouldn't know about the decisions SAF makes,­ you had 38 games to ensure that & you're a­ lucky team as 1 or 2 other additions would have sent­ you down. lucky ,not good .

    From antoni50, on Mon 25 May 1:26AM

  8. Hull did this the first time when they were in the­ championship avoided the drop by the skins of their­ teeths, (only because leeds went in to admin hence­ -10pts) they stayed up, they did it again because THEY­ ARE GOD DAMN LUCKY AND NOT A GOOD TEAM. You say your­ the only side to take pts off the top 4, thats funny­ because they took pts off you lot as well. Next season­ will tell just how GOOD of a team you really are.

    From Chrono-J, on Mon 25 May 1:21AM

  9. well done city for staying up, i have been a city fan­ for over 60 years and say that phil brown must be one­ of the worst managers that city have ever had and the­ chairman duffen must wear rose tinted glasses if he­ cant see that, if we carry on in the same way next­ season with injury prone players and second raters who­ i dont think could get in second div teams we will be­ down by christmas, phil brown is to fond of his self­ and has to high regard of himself

    From diane_whitney, on Mon 25 May 1:05AM

  10. I agree with Colbans earlier post. The league is based­ on points scored, and Hull managed slightly more than­ West Brom, Boro or Newcastle and as such, earned the­ right to remain in the Premiership. I do feel sorry for­ the Newcastle fans, who are a very loyal, very­ passionate group of people. St James is also a very­ nice stadium. Sadly, the teams performances really let­ down the fans....and I don't think it's a quick­ fix either. I hope Shearer stays on as Manager. Maybe­ the Championship will be a better place for him to­ learn his trade anyway. As for Hull City? I think they­ need to re-assess what went wrong and fix it, after­ such a bright start dwindled into nothingness over the­ season.

    From David, on Mon 25 May 12:19AM

  11. where is that "embarassement to all NUFC­ fans" cameron w??? probably selling his season­ ticket for next season...
    why are people critcising our­ celebrations??? what are spose to do leave the stadium­ moaning and grunting after losing 1-0??? you are­ pathetic bunch of people..;at least we don't take­ being in the premiership for granted...
    newcastle­ certainly did not deserve to stay up...even your­ messiah(s?) agree...if you just look at your teamsheet,­ the players costs! and wages!...and then look at­ ours...surely you deserve to go down if you can't­ muster enough points with players suchas kevin nolan,­ michael owen etc...did you beat beat any of the big­ teams this season??? you are all pathetic and frankly i­ hope you do a leeds;..i think we would finally see the­ true fans of your club..and perhaps some humble pie­ would do you a whole lot of good...
    this was our first­ year in the premiership...and there was no way we were­ not going to make a big deal out of it..especially­ since we were tipped to go down..we were always going­ to fully enjoy it...so piss off the lot of you..we are­ staying up ...by default perhaps...but i don't­ wanna hear any sour grapes from a club that is just so­ far up it's fans arse that they can't see they­ just aren't as good as they think they are...

    From Sian, on Mon 25 May 12:09AM

  12. phil brown brought hull city into premiership and we­ took more point off the top 4 teams then any other team­ did we beat newcastle,arsenal away drew with chelsea we­ was 2 nil up at liverpool hull just had problems with­ injuries and lacked a goal scorer at the end of the day­ phil brown has done his job to keep hull in the­ premiership and i say well done brownie cracking job­ mate and to the hull boys next season jimmy bullard be­ back and brown will buy 4 or 5 players so hull be ok so­ up the tigers

    From johnperrott293, on Mon 25 May 12:06AM

  13. And this was Man United's weak team??? They could­ have been in the league themselves and be second. What­ weak team???

    From cokrowinoto, on Sun 24 May 11:46PM

  14. Is the chairman of Hull a @#$%? why isn't he asking­ Brown to explain why Hull have'nt won any of their­ last 22 games.
    I guess he must have some sort of mental­ issues because he was as happy as someone who has just­ won something.
    You surely won't be going into next­ season with Brown at the helm.....will you?
    I have­ never honestly seen a team and their fans celebrate so­ much after lossing 22 games, and staying up because of­ other teams. ar least Sunderland had the courtesy to­ score twice against Chelsea.

    From PAUL H, on Sun 24 May 11:35PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    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 jennetleelove, on Sun 24 May 11:33PM

  16. How can anyone say that Phil Brown has done well? if i­ was the MD i would be looking for another manager.­ Brown has the football knowledge of a dog. he was­ always looking to draw games.
    How can you people crack­ champagne and celebrate, when you have been such a­ rotten team?
    I absolutely hate Brown. he thinks­ he's up there with the big boys, but infact he is­ out of his depth by some way.
    When he berated the team­ on the pitch to make himself look good. strutting about­ in his collection of Primark suits and his plastic­ coat. also his stupid little beard just highlights his­ rotting teeth.

    From PAUL H, on Sun 24 May 11:24PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    THEY DON"T DESERVE. NEWCASTLE deserve it, they­ fight so hard but hull ? they just a bun of­ losers

    from ARSENAL FAN

    From Anh, on Sun 24 May 11:15PM

  18. Congratulations to Hull City, they deserve to stay up­ despite to Man U. Congratulations also to Man­ United's Reserve Team because win last match this­ season. Although, SAF say "United's weak­ Team", the reality is Man United's Reserve­ Team show they also are good team, playing very well,­ score one goal and win the match. I hope Hull City will­ improve their performance next season.

    From , on Sun 24 May 11:12PM

  19. Well done Hull. Better you than Newcastle. Also it puts­ paid to all those stories about United's­ 'weak' team.

    From quatt47, on Sun 24 May 10:20PM

  20. good goin hull you still deserve another chance dont­ spoil it next time....!!!!!!!! the other teams that­ went down deserved it it's time fort new faces to­ come in....

    From theonebehindthewheel, on Sun 24 May 10:06PM
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