Heartbreak for Hull as late Woodgate winner continues slide

Hull 1 Tottenham 2

The Spurs defender powered Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s cross past Matt Duke with just five minutes to go in a scrappy but entertaining contest at the KC Stadium.

Aaron Lennon had given Spurs a 17th-minute lead with a sublime strike but defender Michael Turner scrambled home an equaliser 10 minutes later.

The victory eased the pressure at the bottom of the table for Carling Cup finalists Spurs and lifted them to 14th, just one point behind Hull and five above the bottom three. Hull’s form, however, remains a serious concern with just one win in their last 17 games.

The opener came when Luka Modric played a short one-two from the corner with Robbie Keane and then found Lennon in good space on the edge of the box. Lennon was given too much time by Hull and rifled a superb 20-yard shot past Duke with 16 minutes gone.

Hull were unbowed and, after a slight lull in proceedings, claimed a scrappy equaliser 10 minutes later after Vedran Corluka needlessly conceded a corner.

Cudicini failed to gather Andy Dawson’s subsequent cross and the ball rebounded towards goal off the feet of Wilson Palacios. Defender Turner was the quickest to react and made no mistake as he slid in to stab home his fifth goal of the season from close range.

The second half began at a frantic pace with both sides struggling to retain possession. The first chance fell to Spurs but Duke was equal to a smart turn and shot from Bent.

Both sides conceded plenty of free-kicks and Hull were almost undone when Modric floated one into their box and Corluka rose to head against the bar.

Hull hit the woodwork 13 minutes from time when Kamil Zayatte nodded a Dawson corner across goal but against the far post.

Another goal was inevitable and Spurs snatched the game when Assou-Ekotto picked out Woodgate with a fine cross.

HULL: Duke, Ricketts, Turner, Gardner, Dawson, Marney, Ashbee, Zayatte (Geovanni 87), Kilbane, Garcia (Manucho 79), Cousin (Mendy 67).

TOTTENHAM: Cudicini, Corluka, Woodgate (Dawson 89), King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Zokora 87), Jenas, Palacios, Modric, Keane, Bent (Pavlyuchenko 72).

Referee: Lee Probert.