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  • Cousin (14), Geovanni (60)
  • Ireland (37), Ireland (45)
  • Date:2008-11-16
  • Kick-off:16:00
  • Venue:Kingston Communications Stadium
  • Attendance:24902
  • Referee:Dowd, P

Live Commentary

90mins

It's finally finished at the KC 2-2. A fantastic game as Cousin's early goal was cancelled out by two from Ireland only for Geovanni's deflected free-kick to earn Hull a deserved draw.

90mins

Jo's cross is turned behind for a corner by Ashbee - last chance surely for the visitors but the corner's cleared

90mins

Richards almost gets his head on a corner but, with the four minutes played, it looks like this is ending 2-2

90mins

Four minutes of stoppage time added - of which two are up already

90mins

As the game enters injury time Vassell wastes a great chance to win the game as he tries to lift the ball over Myhill the Hull keeper makes a fine save

89mins

Marney goes into the book late on for a rash lunge on Robinho but Hull clear the free-kick

87mins

King is penalised for a foul and, with time ticking down, City can mount another attack

85mins

Peter Halmosi is on for George Boateng

84mins

The second free-kick is charged by Ireland who is also booked. Third time lucky for Geovanni but it deflects wide

83mins

Wright-Phillips is booked after charging the free-kick that needs to be retaken

81mins

Ashbee is fouled on the edge of the box by Richards and Hull have another free-kick in a very dangerous area

79mins

A lack of clear chances in the past 10 minutes but both sides are still on the lookout for what could be a crucial win

76mins

Former England international Nick Barmby comes on for Hull in place of Cousin

75mins

Jo is on in place of Benjani

73mins

Ireland's cross is headed clear by Cousin as Jo gets ready to come on for City

70mins

Vassell miskicks and then gets another chance but his shot is well blocked

69mins

Pablo Zabaleta challenges Wright-Phillips well to snuff out the danger of a City counter-attack

67mins

Hull win a corner on the left but it's eventually cleared by the City defence

65mins

The game is finely balanced and, with plenty of quality on both sides, it could go either way as Geovanni goes close again

63mins

It's almost 3-2 as Cousin's header is well saved by Schmeichel - game on again at the KC

61mins

Geovanni tries his luck from another free-kick and the former Man City man's shot takes a deflection off the wall but flies past Schmeichel.

56mins

Hull win a free-kick in a centrally dangerous position but Geovanni's strike flies over

54mins

Hull are still probing for the equaliser as Cousin's cross is cleared

50mins

Schmeichel holds onto King's shot well - the Tigers on top just at the minute

49mins

It's been an end-to-end start to the second half with both sides looking to attack whenever possible

48mins

Geovanni tries a brilliant acrobatic volley that flies just over

45mins

The second half gets underway

45mins

After four minutes of injury time after that early delay because of Hart's injury, it's half-time with Man City in front thanks to a double from Ireland.

45mins

If the first two goals of this game came after mistakes, that one from Ireland was a belter. Garrido's cross was controlled in an instant and then he curled it perfectly into the bottom corner just past the dive of Myhill

45mins

Ireland gets his and City's second of the match as we enter stoppage time. It's a fantastic curling strike from the midfielder to put the visitors in front

44mins

Another Robinho free-kick deflects off the wall and Hull clear again

41mins

Robinho is fouled by Ashbee and wins a free-kick. From the next passage of play Robinho's effort hits Marney on the arm but, desite Robinho's protests, it's no pen

39mins

The goal hadn't really looked like coming either as Hull were on top but it's level again after two mistakes gift goals to either side

37mins

Ireland equalises for the visitors but it's another mistake at the back - this time Zayatte's touch is shocking and Ireland has a free shot at goal to score. Terrible mistake from the Hull defender

36mins

A free-kick is headed down by Marlon King but the Hull forward is offside

33mins

Marney wins Hull a corner but it's overhit and the danger is cleared

32mins

It's an entertaining open game with the early goal forcing the visitors to come out and attack Hull

30mins

Robinho wins a free-kick but Garrido's delivery is headed away

27mins

The Hull fans are really creating a good atmosphere as City look to build down the left but Javier Garrido's cross is cleared

25mins

Paul McShane fouls Garrido and picks up a booking

24mins

Not much threat from Robinho so far - he's the City captain today in the absence of the suspended Dunne

23mins

City have been rocked by the goal and look a side really short on confidence. Hull deserve the lead so far

19mins

Kasper Schmeichel is on for Hart

18mins

There's been a significant hold up as Hart needed treatment and it looks like he's got to go off because of a foot injury

14mins

It was an awful back-pass by Ben Haim that let Cousin in - terrible defending from City and now Hart needs treatment

13mins

Daniel Cousin puts Hull in front, prodding home after a mistake by City at the back

11mins

Ben Haim is the first player booked for a late challenge

8mins

Dean Marney gets a talking to from Phil Dowd for a late challenge on Stephen Ireland but the free-kick comes to nothing

6mins

A free-kick is fired in but Joe Hart gathers it well

5mins

Hull are having plenty of the ball in City's half and the crowd are getting behind them well but the final ball is lacking so far

4mins

Robinho's free-kick is just wide - a lively opening to the game though

2mins

Both sides trading possession early on

0mins

The game at the KC stadium is underway. It's an intriguing one this with City losing three on the bounce and Hull, after that superb start to the season, also losing their last three league games. So something has to give

0mins

For City, desperate for a win after three straight league defeats, have Vincent Kompany in midfield instead of the banned Gelson Fernandes while Tal Ben Haim is also in for the suspended Richard Dunne.

0mins

Hull entertain Man City with the home side making one change from the one that lost against Bolton last week. Sam Ricketts replaces the injured Andy Dawson.

Match Preview

Under-pressure manager Mark Hughes takes his Manchester City side to stuttering Hull City on Sunday.

The two teams have not played since 1989 in the old Second Division, a game the Blues won 4-1, and they clash this weekend with both sides looking to turn a corner in their season.

Hull have now lost three in a row, although beaten only by a single goal in their last two games, and have won just two games at the KC Stadium all season.

City have also disappointed of late, losing three league games on the trot, and have picked up just four points since memorably hammering Portsmouth 6-0 in mid-September.

That run of results has put heavy pressure on Hughes, who was given an almost limitless budget late in August - money the Abu Dhabi-based owners will want to ensure is spent well in the January transfer window.

A board meeting last Sunday and a long discussion with owner Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan this week have gone well, dulling talk of an exit for the manager who only joined the club in June.

"While January is going to be an interesting opportunity for Mark to improve the team, this is an exciting ten-year dynasty that we are building and we are only in the first two months," read a statement by chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak this week.

Hughes has also had to handle disputes within his squad and the former Blackburn boss has spoken out in defence of centre-back and captain Richard Dunne.

"People are highlighting the goals we've conceded and that he's been involved in," he said.

"But they forget how many times he's saved us, not only this season but in the past. He's in credit and it's just a spell he's going through."

Dunne and midfielder Gelson Fernandes were both sent off in last week's defeat to Spurs and will be suspended for the clash with the Tigers.

Tal Ben-Haim is the favourite to fill in for Dunne, while Dietmar Hamann - who came on as a substitute after Fernandes was dismissed - should start alongside Stephen Ireland in midfield.

Brazilian Elano, a more attacking option for Hughes in midfield, is likely to continue on the bench despite saying this week: "I cannot be happy if I don't play."


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Match Report

Hull and Manchester City were forced to share the spoils at the KC Stadium after a game in which both sides had to come from behind.

Daniel Cousin put Hull ahead on 14 minutes, but a brace from Stephen Ireland saw the visitors lead at the break.

However, Hull claimed a deserved point in the second half as former City midfielder Geovanni saw his deflected free-kick hit the back of the net.

Hull nearly broke through early on as Geovanni skipped past the City midfield and looked to be heading in on goal, but a reckless late foul from Tal Ben Haim midway inside the half stopped the Brazilian in his tracks at the expense of a yellow card.

Ben Haim then gifted Hull the opening goal as Micah Richards played a ball across the box to the Israeli, whose woeful back pass to keeper Joe Hart allowed Cousin to nip in and slip it past the England international.

Hart was injured in the process and is a doubt for Fabio Capello's England squad to face Germany as he collided with Cousin and had to be replaced by Kasper Schmeichel on 19 minutes.

Mark Hughes' men were then gift-wrapped a goal themselves on 37 minutes as Cousin gave the ball away in City's half, allowing the visitors to break forward through Robinho.

He played a through ball seemingly into the arms of Boaz Myhill, but defender Kamil Zayatte took it away from the Hull keeper and took a huge touch into the path of Ireland, who gladly stuck the ball into an open net from six yards.

The momentum was now with the visitors and on the stroke of half-time, Ireland put his side into the lead.

Javier Garrido sent a cross into the feet of in-form midfielder, who managed to curl a pinpoint right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Geovanni got the leveller for the home side on the hour-mark as he struck a right-footed free-kick from 25 yards which deflected off the wall and past the stranded Schmeichel.

Darius Vassell had a chance to win it for City at the end as Ireland played him through one-on-one with Myhill, but the frontman saw his shot well parried.

Hull City

Manchester City

Corners

36

Fouls

1517

Goal attempts

1012

Shots off target

54

Offsides

24

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