Hull seal late win against boro

Hull 2 Middlesbrough 1

Hull produced a dramatic late comeback to snatch victory over 10-man Middlesbrough at the KC Stadium this afternoon.

Boro looked on course for their first Barclays Premier League win in four games when Tuncay Sanli flicked his side ahead 11 minutes from time.

Yet Hull responded immediately with Bernard Mendy’s drive hitting a post and rebounding in off Ross Turnbull and Marlon King scoring a penalty after David Wheater was sent off.

Wheater had brought down the dangerous Geovanni in the area and referee Steve Tanner had no hesitation in showing the red card.

All three goals came in the space of just six minutes in a pulsating end to an end-to-end encounter.

Until then it had looked like being a frustrating afternoon for Hull with Geovanni missing two good headed opportunities.

Yet their last-gasp heroics ended a six-game winless run and kept them firmly in the picture at the top end of the table.

Boro, unchanged but without top scorer Mido altogether, made the early running and won two corners inside the opening three minutes.

Jeremie Aliadiere found space to get in the first shot on goal but the outstanding Sam Ricketts slid in front of him to block.

Stewart Downing also drove in a low shot but Boaz Myhill saved without difficulty.

Hull fielded the same side that drew at Stoke last week with veteran Nick Barmby retaining his place and making his 500th club appearance against one of his former sides.

That left King as their only out-and-out striker but Geovanni pushed forward in support at every opportunity and most of Hull’s best work went through the Brazilian.

The hosts threatened for the first time when Geovanni drove in a low cross but a deflection prevented George Boateng scoring against the club he left last summer.

In a breathtaking passage midway through the first half, play then quickly switched to the other end but Aliadiere’s deflected shot was comfortably gathered by Myhill.

Hull immediately countered with Geovanni getting behind the Boro defence but his cross for King was poor and Wheater cleared.

Geovanni missed his first glorious chance to put Hull ahead just before the half-hour mark when he headed wide from six yards.

Myhill had failed to claim a Boro corner but Kamil Zayatte cleared to allow Hull to break quickly and King delivered a pinpoint cross for the unmarked playmaker.

Yet the Brazilian got his timing all wrong and the ball bounced off his head in the wrong direction.

Geovanni had a chance to make amends three minutes later but his deflected free-kick also went wide.

Remarkably, he was presented with another close-range header just before the interval, this time from a Ricketts cross, but his aim was no better.

Ricketts, who enjoyed good space down the left, fired in another cross early in the second half but Dean Marney was unable to make firm contact.

Hull boss Phil Brown changed the shape of his side after an hour with midfielders Barmby and Marney withdrawn and replaced by striker Daniel Cousin and winger Mendy.

Mendy was soon on the ball and broke down the right, cutting inside. The ball ran through to Geovanni but his 30-yard effort was wide.

Geovanni beat two players to set up King moments later but he also failed to hit the target.

At the other end a chance opened up for Didier Digard but Myhill claimed his low bouncing shot.

Boro grabbed the lead as time ticked away when Aliadiere sent Justin Hoyte clear down the right and he crossed for Tuncay to delicately back-heel the ball in from three yards. Yet any thoughts the visitors might have snatched the game were dispelled as Hull hit back to turn the game on its head.

Mendy did the initial damage as he found space to get in a shot from the right-hand side of the area and his powerful low shot struck the base of the post and went in off Turnbull.

Hull did not want to settle for a point and moments later Geovanni was through on goal, only to be brought down by Wheater.

Tanner quickly showed red and King calmly stepped up to side-foot home the resulting penalty.

Cousin had another chance moments later but shot high over the bar and Hull held on.