• Date: Sat 16 August 2008
  • Venue: Kingston Communications Stadium
  • Ref: Walton, P
  • Attendance: 24,525
Hull City

Hull City

Geovanni (22)

Folan (81)

2 - 1
Fulham

Fulham

Seol (8)

Hull City vs Fulham

Team Lineups

Hull City

Boaz Myhill
Sam Ricketts
Andy Dawson
Michael Turner
Anthony Gardner
Deiberson Geovanni
George Boateng
Nicky Barmby (Peter Halmosi, 62)
Ian Ashbee
Marlon King (Caleb Folan, 70)
Richard Garcia (Craig Fagan, 74)

Fulham

Mark Schwarzer
John Paintsil
Aaron Hughes
Brede Hangeland
Paul Konchesky
Jimmy Bullard
Danny Murphy (Leon Andreasen, 85)
Ki-Hyeon Seol (Erik Nevland, 85)
Zoltan Gera
Simon Davies
Bobby Zamora (Clint Dempsey, 81)


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

FULL-TIME: HULL CITY 2-1 FULHAM

90

The final whistle has finally gone after a long period of stoppage time and the Hull fans and players celebrate a debut Premier League win!

90

George Boateng comes off after looking in discomfort for some time - All three changes have been made so Hull will finish up with just ten men.

90

Hull almost crafting an opening as a deep ball in from Folan is met by a Halmosi header back across the box but Schwarzer punches clear.

90

Five minutes of stoppage time to be played, an announcement met by a rapture of boos from the home fans.

89
Yellow Card
 

A booking for Craig Fagan who is a notoriously firey character after a foul on the right flank. Fairly cynical and deserving of the caution.

86

With only four minutes of normal time remaining Hull City look on course to take three-points in their Premier League debut. At the moment Fulham look to have run out of ideas and Hull may even snatch another as the gaps begin to appear.

84
Substitution
 

The second part of a double change as Danny Murphy comes off Leon Andreasen who will sit in the midfield to make sure Fulham don't fall further behind.

84
Substitution
 

Seol Ki-Hyeon makes way for Norwegian striker Erik Nevland to give the visitors more attacking options as they chase this game.

81
Goal
 

Paul Konchesky makes a massive error, gifting possession to Craig Fagan who squares to Folan for one of the easiest goals he will score in the Premier League - Hull have come from behind to lead!

80
Substitution
 

Clint Dempsey comes on in Fulham's first change as Bobby Zamora comes off after a decent performance in his debut.

77

Nice passage of passing from Fulham involving the entire midfield camped in the Hull half but Gardner stepped in to dispossess Bullard and Hull suddenly broke and a ball over the top once again caused confusion but Schwarzer in the end gathers.

74
Substitution
 

The third and final change for Hull City as Craig Fagan comes on to replace Richard Garcia - This means local hero Dean Windass will not feature in Hull City's first game in the top flight.

73

Good play from Boateng on the edge of the box, he looked as though he would be dispossessed by Pantsil but he forces a corner - Nothing coming from the set-play however and Fulham re-group.

72
Substitution
 

Marlon King has been brought off after a hard-working performance and Caleb Folan comes into the game up-top.

71

Substitute Halmosi with his first contribution of note as he broke to the by-line and cuts back to the edge of the box and Garcia's strike was well saved by Schwarzer to his left.

67

Fulham under pressure again as Geovanni plays the ball into King's feet in the box but the strong defender Brade Hangelaand robs the ball away from King as he tried to turn.

64

A like for like switch for the Tigers on the left hand side as Nicky Barmby makes way for debutant Peter Halmosi making it 5 players to make their Hull debut today.

62

Route one ball from Myhill over the Fulham back four causing confusion between the defenders and the goalkeeper and if Geovanni had reacted quicker he may have got in behind there.

59

An incisive piece of play from Hull City after Pantsil gives it away and King found Barmby as Geovanni broke into the box to get onto the end of Barmby's low cross but the unmarked forward scuffed his shot into the ground and wide.

54

A good swift break away for the home side and the ball is played wide for Ricketts who fizzes the ball across the box but Schwarzer is able to gather.

53

Hull certainly seem to have stepped up a gear but their efforts to unsettle Fulham seem to be resulting in some space for the footballing midfield of Fulham. Bullard and Gera looking dangerous.

52

An excellent ball in from Boateng forced a corner for Hull and the delivery from Barmby finds big centre-half Michael Turner but he heads fractionally over the top - Should have done better.

49

Long throw in by Ricketts launched into the area into the path of Geovanni sprinting into the gap and the bouncing ball only just cleared the head of the Brazilian and Schwarzer will be relieved to get that one into his arms.

48

The early moments of the second period very lively as Zoltan Gera almost found a gap in behind threaded in by Bullard but Gera misses his kick and skewed it wide.

Second half
 

We're underway once again now and we can only wait to see how the half time team talks will impact on the two sides' performances.

Half time
 

The half-time whistle goes here on a game that has been entertaining even if lacking in actual quality. Fulham will be disappointed not to be in front and Hull need to improve to get something from this game.

44
Yellow Card
 

Dawson goes into the book for a tackle from behind - He did seem to get some of the ball but he clearly took the man first and the full-back accepts his caution.

42

Ian Ashbee tries a long range shot from range but he cannot keep it down as he sends it high over the bar to a rapture of jeers from the away fans.

39

Barmby seems to be stuggling with the pace of the top flight as he fails to track Pantsil over-lapping and linking up with Seol to create room on the right hand flank. Unfortunately for Fulham they can't find the killer pass since the equaliser.

36

Fulham starting to take control again as Gera collects the ball deep and rifles a shot from the right hand channel but it is watched all the way by Myhill and he gathers safely - Hull need to be careful not to draw on too much pressure here.

34

The combination that led to the opening goal linking up again for Fulham as Bullard picks out Seol in the box but his header could only the find the arms of Boaz Myhill.

31

Geovanni is certainly the biggest threat to the Fulham defence as he drops into the gap between midfield and defence picking the ball up. The only answer Fulham have had is to just bring him down as soon as he gets on the ball.

28
Yellow Card
 

Samuel Ricketts is cautioned by Peter Walton after a foul on Zoltan Gera and his reaction seems to be what earnt him the caution.

26

Marlon King finding a bit of space down the right-flank and trying to find a team-mate with the cross but Aaron Hughes stepped in to clear with comfort.

22
Goal
 

Geovanni picks the ball up a long way out in between the Fulham midfield and defence and runs into the space before thumping a left footed strike into the back of Schwarzer's net. What a stunning way to open the Tigers' Premier League account.

20

It's all Fulham at the moment as Dawson continues to be doubled up on their left flank as Barmy struggles to get back and help out his full-back - Hull look a little out of their depth at the moment.

19

Another well worker corner kick that Bullard again delivered with quality to the oncoming Simon Davies on the edge of the box but his half-volley sailed over.

17

A corner for Fulham swung in and Pantsil was attacking the near post but he couldn't direct the header goal bound and it flies behind for a goal kick.

15

Sorry for the lack of update but it has simply been a sequence of passes along the back lines from the side as neither team can find a gap in the opposition's set up.

11

Things settling down after the goal here as Hull try to re-group. The Fulham midfield are making it difficult for the home side to get on the ball with time to pick a pass.

8
Goal
 

Jimmy Bullard finding room on the right as the defenders backed away, he picked out Seol Ki-Hyeon who finished beautifully with his head. Fulham take the lead and stun the home fans.

7

Jimmy Bullard swings a corner outwards from the goal-line with his right foot but no Fulham player able to meet it and the danger passes for Hull City.

5

The opening moments have been very open with both sides looking to spring forward. This seems to have the making of an exciting encounter.

2

Geovanni getting on the end of a ball in from the left flank from Dawson but Schwarzer made a superb save as Geovanni should have scored and Pantsil following up put to safety. That has got the home fans singing even louder than they were at kick-off

1

Almost an early opportunity for Fulham as Bullard lifted the ball over the Tigers back four as Seoul turned it back in towards Gera but the Hungarian couldn't find a finish. Just a sniff of goal for Fulham.

Kickoff
 

Peter Walton gets us underway here and all eyes will be on how he performs today in accordance with the FA's new Get On With The Game campaign.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Ki-Hyeon, Bullard, Gera, Zamora

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Hull: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Anthony Gardner, Dawson, Garcia, Ashbee, Boateng, Barmby, Geovanni, King

Awaiting Kickoff
 

For Fulham, Schwarzer, Gera, Zamora and Pantsil are given their debuts by Roy Hodgson but Zamora's likely strike partner Andy Johnson is ruled out of making his debut due to a thigh injury.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Phil Brown has given debuts to four summer signings today; King, Gardner, Boateng and Geovanni as well as local boy Nicky Barmby starting his first game in the top flight since relegation with Leeds United.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Welcome to the KC Stadium on the opening day of the new Premier League season and today Hull City play their first game in the top flight at home to Fulham.