United youngsters prove worth as Tigers celebrate

24 May 2009 17:29
Hull escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth despite slumping to a 1-0 defeat against an under-strength Manchester United. Darron Gibson fired the only goal of a tense Premier League encounter at the KC Stadium with a stunning strike midway through the first half. Yet with Newcastle losing at Aston Villa, the Tigers just managed to limp over the line to safety with 35 points. United made 10 changes as Sir Alex Ferguson rested his biggest names ahead of the Champions League final on Wednesday but the final score meant there could be no complaints from any of Hull's rivals. The champions' starting XI had an average age of just 23, a figure boosted by the return of veteran club captain Gary Neville, 34. England defender Rio Ferdinand, hoping to prove his fitness to face Barcelona in Rome after a calf injury, failed to make it.

Source: Eurosport