Hull City all but confirmed their Premier League status for another season as they produced a dramatic comeback to snatch a 2-2 draw at relegation rivals Fulham.
The Tigers had appeared set for an alarming tumble into the relegation mix when trailing 2-0 through goals from Ashkan Dejagah and Fernando Amorebieta midway through the second half, but delivered a stirring response to stun Craven Cottage.
With 15 minutes remaining, Nikica Jelavic nodded in from six yards out after the ball had rebounded kindly off the bar. Then, Shane Long converted Sone Aluko's deep cross for a priceless 87th minute equaliser.
The result does not quite guarantee City's safety but a seven-point advantage over the bottom three means it will require a miraculous turnaround for Steve Bruce's men to return to the Championship.
With the onus on City avoiding defeat to all but confirm their safety, Bruce returned to the wing-back system that had served him well on the road. Alex Bruce replaced George Boyd and slotted into a three-man defence flanked by James Chester and Curtis Davies. Fulham welcomed back Lewis Holtby, Mahamadou Diarra and Sascha Riether as they chased a win that would lift them out of the bottom three.
The early signs were promising for the hosts. John Arne Riise was the first to threaten when shooting wide from a good position on the edge of the box, before the lively frontman Hugo Rodallega sent in a wicked cross that missed everyone.
The majority of supporters inside Craven Cottage urged their side to keep up the pressure, but City's disciplined shape soon sucked much of the life out of a nervous contest. Fulham enjoyed the lion's share of possession but lacked the guile to make it count.![HullFulham]()
TOUGH CONTEST: Shane Long battles Johnny Heitinga.
City were a less than convincing attacking force, though. Only Nikica Jelavic's tame header at David Stockdale and Liam Rosenior's deflected shot over the bar came close to threatening an away goal until a contentious moment late in the first half. The pace of Shane Long took him in behind Fulham's defence and when he ran across the backtracking full-back Fernando Amorebieta, a fall inside the box appeared to have won his side a penalty. Referee Lee Mason saw it differently, though, and waved play on. City fumed on the sidelines but had perhaps been done few favours by Ahmed Elmohamady, booked earlier in the half for diving. Fulham's intensity had ebbed away by the break so Felix Magath responded by making two changes. Kieran Richardson and Dejagah both came on to spice up the Cottagers' attacking play, and when Darren Bent followed soon after it was clear Fulham were going for broke. And it paid off. Dejagah, one of the half-time substitutes, was afforded space to shoot from the right of the penalty area and his curling shot sailed past the previously unworked Steve Harper. The opener lifted the roof of Craven Cottage and before the Tigers could respond it was 2-0. Kieran Richardson's cross from the left was attacked by the advanced Amorebieta and his downward header was precisely directed into the bottom corner.![jelavic]()
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LIFELINE: Nikica Jelavic makes it 2-1.
The lethargic Tigers appeared to be dead and buried but were tossed a fortunate lifeline with 15 minutes remaining. Right-back Sascha Riether inadvertently sent the ball looping over David Stockdale and though the keeper tipped the ball on to the bar, Jelavic was alert to nod in the rebound. City were buoyed and suddenly sensed what had appeared an unlikely comeback. Sone Aluko, another substitute to make an impression, worked space 25 yards out and let fly, only to see his shot strike the crossbar. The Tigers were soon grateful to Harper. A break down the left flank through Rodallega stretched the visitors but the City keeper was brave to smother at the feet of Dejagah. It would prove to be a mighty intervention as City responded with a magnificent late rally. Unperturbed by Elmohamady's shot against the foot of the post, the Tigers levelled it up with three minutes remaining. Aluko's cross missed out every defender and Long was on hand to head past Stockdale from six yards out. The 2,000 travelling fans were a pocket of joy inside an otherwise numb stadium. It proved to be the final act of a compelling fixture but City were the only ones celebrating a point that somehow felt much bigger than the 36 others.![bruce]()
PRESSURE: Steve Bruce endured another dramatic afternoon.
Fulham: David Stockdale, Sascha Riether, John Heitinga, Brede Hangeland, Fernando Amorebieta, Scott Parker, Steve Sidwell (Darren Bent 54), John Arne Riise (Ashkan Dejagah 46), Mahamadou Diarra, Lewis Holtby (Kieran Richardson 46), Hugo RodallegaSubs not used: Maarten Stekelenburg, Pajtim Kasami, Cauley Woodrow, Patrick Roberts.
Hull City: Steve Harper, Ahmed Elmohamady, James Chester, Alex Bruce (Sone Aluko 67), Curtis Davies, Liam Rosenior (George Boyd 81), David Meyler (Yannick Sagbo 81), Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore, Shane Long, Nikica Jelavic. Subs not used: Eldin Jakupovic, Robert Koren, Matty Fryatt, Stephen Quinn.
TOUGH CONTEST: Shane Long battles Johnny Heitinga.City were a less than convincing attacking force, though. Only Nikica Jelavic's tame header at David Stockdale and Liam Rosenior's deflected shot over the bar came close to threatening an away goal until a contentious moment late in the first half. The pace of Shane Long took him in behind Fulham's defence and when he ran across the backtracking full-back Fernando Amorebieta, a fall inside the box appeared to have won his side a penalty. Referee Lee Mason saw it differently, though, and waved play on. City fumed on the sidelines but had perhaps been done few favours by Ahmed Elmohamady, booked earlier in the half for diving. Fulham's intensity had ebbed away by the break so Felix Magath responded by making two changes. Kieran Richardson and Dejagah both came on to spice up the Cottagers' attacking play, and when Darren Bent followed soon after it was clear Fulham were going for broke. And it paid off. Dejagah, one of the half-time substitutes, was afforded space to shoot from the right of the penalty area and his curling shot sailed past the previously unworked Steve Harper. The opener lifted the roof of Craven Cottage and before the Tigers could respond it was 2-0. Kieran Richardson's cross from the left was attacked by the advanced Amorebieta and his downward header was precisely directed into the bottom corner.
LIFELINE: Nikica Jelavic makes it 2-1.The lethargic Tigers appeared to be dead and buried but were tossed a fortunate lifeline with 15 minutes remaining. Right-back Sascha Riether inadvertently sent the ball looping over David Stockdale and though the keeper tipped the ball on to the bar, Jelavic was alert to nod in the rebound. City were buoyed and suddenly sensed what had appeared an unlikely comeback. Sone Aluko, another substitute to make an impression, worked space 25 yards out and let fly, only to see his shot strike the crossbar. The Tigers were soon grateful to Harper. A break down the left flank through Rodallega stretched the visitors but the City keeper was brave to smother at the feet of Dejagah. It would prove to be a mighty intervention as City responded with a magnificent late rally. Unperturbed by Elmohamady's shot against the foot of the post, the Tigers levelled it up with three minutes remaining. Aluko's cross missed out every defender and Long was on hand to head past Stockdale from six yards out. The 2,000 travelling fans were a pocket of joy inside an otherwise numb stadium. It proved to be the final act of a compelling fixture but City were the only ones celebrating a point that somehow felt much bigger than the 36 others.
PRESSURE: Steve Bruce endured another dramatic afternoon.Fulham: David Stockdale, Sascha Riether, John Heitinga, Brede Hangeland, Fernando Amorebieta, Scott Parker, Steve Sidwell (Darren Bent 54), John Arne Riise (Ashkan Dejagah 46), Mahamadou Diarra, Lewis Holtby (Kieran Richardson 46), Hugo RodallegaSubs not used: Maarten Stekelenburg, Pajtim Kasami, Cauley Woodrow, Patrick Roberts.
Hull City: Steve Harper, Ahmed Elmohamady, James Chester, Alex Bruce (Sone Aluko 67), Curtis Davies, Liam Rosenior (George Boyd 81), David Meyler (Yannick Sagbo 81), Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore, Shane Long, Nikica Jelavic. Subs not used: Eldin Jakupovic, Robert Koren, Matty Fryatt, Stephen Quinn.
