Source: Telegraph
Danger looms for plummeting Hull City
The soon-to-be published tome of 700 photographs candidly follows Hull's frightening fall from grace from the Champions League positions to Championship fodder and is billed as a must-have for supporters but at this rate even the most loyal supporters who would be forgiven for giving it a miss unless there is to be a fairytale ending to their season.
Now Phil Brown's team have won just twice in 26 attempts and whilst their latest slip-up would have had Tigers fans drowning their sorrows on Saturday night, their Newcastle and Middlesbrough counterparts would have warmly toasted former Sunderland winger Liam Lawrence.
His brilliant long-range goal after Ricardo Fuller's opener ultimately proved decisive, bolstering their North-East rivals' chances of survival and securing Stoke - promoted alongside Hull last year - Premier League football for another season at least while the East Yorkshire side hurtle back to the Championship.
'The most difficult part of the job trying to maintain self-belief but that's what I've got to do,' Brown said.
'We have to try to maintain our self-belief. That's the hard part of the job. I'm sill confident. I'm still believing. I've asked the players to keep the faith and that's my job this week.
'The difference in the two teams was probably nerves and it played a big part in our game. There are two games to go and if it's a draw on Monday between Newcastle and Middlesbrough it's still in our hands.'
After soaking up early season plaudits, Brown may have proved to be his own worst enemy for he surprisingly dropped leading scorer Geovanni following his spat with Daniel Cousin and his omission was exposed as a mistake when Hull's most creative influence emerged as second-half substitute and almost inspired a dramatic comeback.
Brown defended his selection, stating: 'It's quite simple, the second half at Aston Villa was one of our better performances and that was down to the other little man, Nick Barmby and he nudged ahead of Geovanni.'
Earlier, Hull saw early chances come and go for Daniel Cousin and Richard Garcia who were denied by Thomas Sorensen but those opportunities represented a false dawn for Hull because they sacrificed subtlety offered for directness.
It meant they were effectively banging their heads against a brick wall by launching hopeful cross after hopeful cross into the Stoke box as they played to their opponents' strengths - aerial superiority and organisation.
But not only did Hull miss Giovanni's innovative talents, their impatient approach limited Barb's nimble contribution after his bright opening while Stoke looked far more menacing on the counter-attack.
Lawrence's shot was deflected inches wide by Kamala Zayatte before Stoke were put on course for their second away win this season in the 41st minute from the resultant corner.
Hull defenders were at sixes-and-sevens against set-piece specialists and after a couple of ricochets in the penalty box, the ball fell to Fuller who swivelled and slammed a low shot just inside the post after Sam Ricketts strayed out of position leaving Dawson holding his head in his hands.
Hull raised their game after half-time and would have levelled but for Sorensen who denied Kevin Kilbane and Garcia as Brown's charges rallied.
But Hull's back four looked a soft touch and the deficit almost doubled in the 65th minute when Glenn Whelan's lofted 20-yarder struck the inside of the post and bounced to safety when Myhill had already sunk to his knees.
Geovanni emerged as a make-or-break substitute when Zayatte was stretchered off following a clash of heads only to be upstaged by Lawrence who curled in a 25-yard shot in the 73rd minute.
Yet Geovanni almost inspired a dramatic recovery when he was fouled for the stoppage-time free-kick that saw Andy Dawson curl a 25-yard free-kick beyond Sorensen.
The Brazilian came close to equalising but his cross was deflected into the side-netting by Lawrence but a goal-kick was awarded as luck deserted Hull.
Tony Pulis, Stoke's manager, added: 'Staying up means everything and to be preparing for another season in the Premier League and to prove a lot of people wrong is very nice. For the players it's a matter of proving to yourselves that you can do it. They were rank outsiders.'
