Source: Telegraph
Portsmouth 3 Hull City 2: match report
Portsmouth struck twice in the last two minutes to wreck Iain Dowie's first match in charge of Hull City, who remain locked firmly in the bottom three and still without an away league win this season. [LNB]Dowie, who took over from the sacked Phil Brown in midweek, looked on course for victory with goals from Caleb Folan in each half but the visitors reckoned without the fighting spirit of rock bottom Portsmouth. [LNB]They may be doomed to the drop but they deserved their victory, keeping going to the end and being duly rewarded with late strikes from Kanu and Jamie O'Hara. [LNB]Portsmouth manager Avram Grant made five changes frrom the team beaten at Liverpool last week, leaving the likes of Michael Brown and Steve Finnan on the substitutes' bench, but there will be few complaints about the bottom-of-the-table club's commitment to getting a result. [LNB]Even so, they were fortunate not to fall behind in the fifth minute, when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed Kevin Kilbane's cross on to the crossbar with the Portsmouth goal gaping. [LNB]Hull moved in front just before the half hour mark, when Jimmy Bullard's corner was cleared only as far as Folan, who connected perfectly from 25 yards out to beat David James with the assistance of a deflection. [LNB]The Portsmouth goalkeeper's discomfort grew a few minutes later when, in collecting the ball from the in-rushing Folan, he slipped on the greasy Fratton surface, carrying the ball outside the penalty area and collecting a booking from referee Phil Dowd. [LNB]All that was forgotten when Portsmouth deservedly drew level six minutes before the break.O'Hara's corner was headed down by Hermann Hreidarsson, allowing Tommy Smith to crash in from close range. [LNB]Portsmouth pushed forward constantly in the second half, Kanu arriving to augment the home side's attacking options. Smith went close, shooting over when well positioned. [LNB]Yet it was Hull who were to grab an unlikely goal 18 minutes from the end. Portsmouth's rearguard were stretched beyond breaking point as Hull broke quickly, Folan racing through to calmly steer the ball beyond James. [LNB]There was, however, to be a stunning twist in the tale. Just when Hull seemed on the brink of victory, O'Hara smashed home a free-kick in the 88th minute. [LNB]Hull were still reeling when seconds later, Smith burst down the left and crossed for Kanu to drive the winner through a crowd of players. [LNB]
