Source: Daily_Mail
Hull 2 City Fulham 0: Manager Iain Dowie's belief works in his defence
Phil Brown told them they would never play for Hull City again. Iain Dowie took Ibrahima Sonko and Caleb Folan away from the ignominy of training with the kids and told them they had vital roles in the club's survival bid.[LNB]Illness may have prevented Folan from adding to the two goals he scored on his return last week and on loan Sonko has to sit out Saturday's visit to parent club Stoke, but the defender returned for the first time since October's defeat at Fulham to lead a full-blooded defence.[LNB]This was a comfortable win as Hull kept their first clean sheet in 11 games.[LNB] Tigers roar on: Craig Fagan is congratulated after his crucial strike[LNB] [LNB]Sonko said: 'I don't really want to talk about the old manager. He's got his own ways, he believed in some players and had less belief in others I was one of them. [LNB]'I trained with the younger squad and it was difficult. Caleb and I spent so much time together we were nearly boyfriend and girlfriend and we told each other just to keep going. [LNB]'My agent said, keep your head down, respect the kids because some of them are going to be great footballers and don't get nutmegged.'[LNB] [LNB] Fulham pay the penalty: Jimmy Bullard converts from the spot[LNB]New boss Dowie has no time for petty differences with his players. Hisclean slate had to include bringing back these two complex players and striker Jozy Altidore. [LNB]MATCH FACTS HULL CITY (4-4-2): Myhill 7; McShane7, Sonko 7, Mouyokolo 7, Kilbane 8;Garcia 5, Boateng 7, Bullard 7 (Olofinjana 85min), Marney 6; Fagan7, Altidore 8 (Vennegoor of Hesselink77). [LNB]Booked: Kilbane, Altidore.[LNB]FULHAM (4-3-2-1): Schwarzer 7; Shorey 6, Smalling 5, Hangeland 7, Konchesky 6; Riise 5 (Okaka 53, 5), Baird 6, Dikgacoi 5; Gera 6, Davies 6; Dempsey6. [LNB]Booked: Dikgacoi, Davies, Gera, Shorey.[LNB]Man of the match: Jozy Altidore.[LNB]Referee: Chris Foy. [LNB]The American terrorised Chris Smalling, whogave away a first-half penalty, and Jimmy Bullard sent the spot-kickinto the top corner.[LNB]Dowie said: 'I will be driving Jozy mad. He is a lovely big lad who is laid-back, which is a strength, but I need him to train the way he plays. [LNB]'He can run, he has power, he's a cool finisher ... We just need to get a bit of devil in his stomach.'[LNB]Roy Hodgson's misery was compounded by Craig Fagan's looping header from Dean Marney's cross three minutes after half time. [LNB]'The Fulham boss made six changes in advance of Thursday's home Europa League quarter-final against Wolfsburg and said: 'My major disappointment was that players had a chance to show how very good they are and they missed it.'[LNB] Roy Hodgson insists Fulham fans were right to boo 'mercenary' BullardWho is going to be your club's next star? Phil Jones is latest young gun...Piers Morgan: My 10-point solution to Arsene Wenger's Mission: ImpossibleFULHAM FC
