WHAT began as a day with an identity crisis building uncontrollably around the KC Stadium, ended as one of the greatest in Hull City's 109-year history.
Conquering the might of Liverpool for the very first time with a performance to remind every supporter in a sell-out crowd exactly why they were there, all the bickering over a proposed name change was forgotten for 90 minutes. A blessed relief, if only for an afternoon.
If there is one thing City's outspoken owner Assem Allam and his growing band of dissenters can agree upon (and there is very little else, it seems), it is that all want the best for a club that carries their immense financial and emotional investments. There are polarised views on the best path forward but a day on the common ground had an uplifting feel. Oh for many more.
Steve Bruce's side were quite magnificent. Exploiting every chink of vulnerability in Liverpool's uncertain make-up, they deserved each one of the three precious points banked on the first day of Advent.
The victory relied upon two deflected goals off Liverpool's luckless defender Martin Skrtel but do not be fooled, this was certainly no fluke win. City were disciplined and resolute in defence and rolled the dice when it mattered to reap the huge rewards.
Jake Livermore's first Premier League goal was cancelled out by Steven Gerrard's excellent free-kick, before a decisive strike from David Meyler and a Skrtel own goal inside the final quarter of an epic contest swung the game irretrievably towards the Tigers. The KC was a manic sight to behold.
A fifth win of the season eclipsed all four that had gone before. For the stature of the opposition and the test of character asked of City after two sobering defeats to Southampton and Crystal Palace, there is every chance it will not be bettered for years.
Bruce and his side will rightfully be awash with superlatives and plaudits this morning but, more importantly, they find themselves seven points clear of the bottom three with a third of the season gone.
If Bruce is correct and 10 wins will see his side stick around for another year in the top flight, they are already halfway there. Suddenly, an expedition through December's choppy watrers no longer seems quite so daunting.
There is, of course, something that cannot be ignored during these final weeks of 2013. Allam's latest outburst in the Independent on Sunday, branding opponents to his Hull Tigers rebranding as "hooligans" and the "militant minority", turned the volume up to 11 on a name change row that refuses to cease.
Rather than demonstrating a modicum of understanding on this emotive issue from deep within a self-inflicted hole, Allam has put his head down and carried on digging.
Bruce admitted afterwards he will offer a helping hand of diplomacy to his headstrong owner during a meeting this week but do not bank on Allam accepting it.
Although the long-term health of City is suddenly impossible to predict, as Allam weighs up a potential exit strategy in 2014, the noisy distraction was drowned out by the sheer desire of Bruce's side. Focusing on anything but their heroics would be a monumental disservice.
In these trying times, Bruce returned to what he has known best during his City reign. A wing-back shape not seen at the KC Stadium since the Spring deployed Ahmed Elmohamady and Robbie Brady in positions where they flourished last season. A bulked up central midfield brought a return for Meyler, too, and his trademark industry spread across the side in a bright start.
Liverpool, without the injured Daniel Sturridge, were uncomfortable with the appetite of their hosts from the outset. Curtis Davies was unfortunate to see his header fly past from Alex Bruce's precise cross, but City grabbed a deserved opener in the 20th minute.
Against a backdrop of "City till I die" chanting, Livermore latched on to Meyler's pass to stretch the Reds and tried his luck from 25 yards. For a player that has twice hit the woodwork at the KC Stadium, the on-loan Spurs man deserved the slice of luck that lifted his shot over Simon Mignolet, thanks to a deflection off Skrtel.
If the opening goal poked at the pride of a Liverpool side beaten just twice this season, the result was a stylish reaction. Seven minutes later they were level when Davies' foul on Jordan Henderson on the edge of the box gave Gerrard an opportunity he would not pass up. Striking his free-kick with power and accuracy, Allan McGregor was beaten low to his left.
Although the equaliser promised to alter the momentum of the contest, City were not to be rolled over. Their defensive discipline, with Bruce and Maynor Figueroa excelling against gifted opponents, formed a tight line for Liverpool to breach, while the hard-working Yannick Sagbo gave Kolo Toure and Skrtel an unpleasant afternoon.
Suarez, who was limited to just one half-chance in the first period, was first to threaten after the break when shooting low at McGregor from a tight angle but City continued to give more than they got. Davies and Huddlestone both gave Liverpool warning of the Tigers' intent when narrowly missing the target, before pandemonium arrived with 18 minutes to go.
Liverpool's unconvincing defending had always given City hope and when Toure fluffed three chances to clear inside the penalty area, Meyler arrived to unleash a low left-foot shot past former Sunderland team-mate Mignolet. A first Premier League goal was just reward for the indefatigable Irishman.
City's lead was a victory for persistence and a refusal to lie down, typified by McGregor a minute before the decisive goal. Philippe Coutinho's ball into the box undid the defence but the Scotland star somehow kept out Victor Moses with the goal begging.
It felt like a match-winning save and that status was confirmed three minutes from time. A counter attack led by Sagbo teed up the outstanding Huddlestone to shoot and Skrtel provided the helping hand to a tame effort when nodding past Mignolet.
There was still time for City to spurn the chance for a fourth when Elmohamady dragged wide at the end of a lightning attack, but none were grumbling when the final whistle sounded soon after.
A famous win on a day that will not be forgotten quickly. Thankfully, for all the right reasons.
