Graham was fated to score - Bruce

10 December 2013 06:46

Hull manager Steve Bruce felt it was written in the stars that Danny Graham would end his goal drought against former club Swansea, but was less happy at the refereeing decision he claimed restricted his side to a 1-1 draw.

Graham left the Swans for Sunderland in January, and had not scored since. His last goal came on January 9 against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup, a run of 30 games.

But the striker, on loan to the Tigers, was on hand to convert Ahmed Elmohamady's cross in the eighth minute to score for the first time in 1,626 minutes of Premier League action.

His previous top-flight goal came on New Year's Day.

When asked if he thought fate had decided Graham would score at the Liberty Stadium, Bruce said: "That's why he played.

"Football has that knack, he had a great time here, had a big-money move to Sunderland and it has not quite happened for him.

"Today will do him the world of good. Maybe it is something in the Swansea air, he usually scores in clutches so let's hope he can do on a run now.

"He's a good player, every top player goes through a spell like he has had. When he moved he was not a regular at Swansea, so it takes him a while to get up to speed.

"In that respect it was probably the worst time to get his move. It did not quite happen or him in the north east, but I know how that feels."

But the goal did not prove the winner as Chico Flores diverted a fierce Jonjo Shelvey drive into the net, although replays suggested the Spaniard's arm had helped the ball on its way.

Hull were then denied what looked like a clear penalty when Dwight Tiendalli placed both hands in the way of an Alex Bruce header.

"I am disappointed when I see the penalty claim," said Bruce.

"It's not as if it hits him from a yard away, he's reacted to it from 10 yards away.

"The boy has practically caught it, signed it and kicked it into the stand. But we are away from home and the decision has gone against it.

"With the goal, I know he has punched it in but I can forgive that one because I don't think any of us saw it at the time.

"But if you look at the reaction of all of our players for the penalty, everyone of them has gone up which gives you an idea.

"I just hope it is not too costly for us, it's happened a couple of times, away from home in particular."

Swans boss Michael Laudrup accepted his side had been below their best, but felt Tiendalli's handball was a "50-50" call.

"I watched the goal, Chico's hand is into his body," said the Dane. "It is the same with Dwight, but the problem with Dwight is he has his hands in front.

"I think the goal was okay, I think the thing with Dwight is another 50-50. Of course, they would argue, I would do the same if it was the other way around. They didn't give it."

Laudrup also revealed that Swansea are set to make a decision on when Michel Vorm should undergo an operation on his niggling knee injury.

The procedure will keep him out for four or five weeks, but the Swans have yet to decide at what point he will have the surgery.

"He had a scan today, he has had the injury for quite some time," he said.

"One day he will have to do something about it, he can go on but I think we have to make a decision at a certain point that he will need surgery.

"It will be a clean-out, so it won't be a long period of absence but we have to find when it is possible.

"It will be four or five weeks, maybe a little less."

Source: PA