Source: Daily_Mail
Portsmouth 3 Hull 2: Late comeback gets Dowie reign off to miserable start
Portsmouth proved they are taking the rest of the Barclays Premier League campaign seriously by staging a last-gasp comeback against Hull which denied Tigers boss Iain Dowie a debut victory.[LNB]Avram Grant's men, staring relegation in the face after a nine-point deduction for going into administration, were 2-1 down with three minutes remaining at Fratton Park, only for Jamie O'Hara to equalise and Kanu to score the winner.[LNB]Dowie's men had led twice, with Caleb Folan scoring two fortuitous goals in between Tommy Smith's equaliser, with Hull appearing to be on course for a first league win away from home this season.[LNB]'Going down, going down,' chanted the Pompey fans, acknowledging their own position, but also taunting the visiting support after a demoralising defeat against a team already virtually condemned to relegation.[LNB] Something special: Jamie O'Hara begins Pompey's fightback[LNB] [LNB]Much of the focus before the game was on whether Grant wouldsignificantly weaken his team after the Premier League's deduction madeit virtually impossible for them to stay in the top flight. They nowcan get a maximum of 37 points.[LNB]With an FA Cup semi-final on the horizon, Grant had consideredmaking wholesale changes. In the end he drafted five players in fromthe team that lost to Liverpool last Monday, although it could hardlybe labelled weak - one of the changes was England goalkeeper DavidJames coming in and another scored their equaliser.[LNB]Hull were looking for a reaction after Phil Brown's dismissalearlier in the week and Dowie's appointment, with his task appearingmore difficult after this result.[LNB]'He's got a quarter of the season to go and that is enough time forhim to influence it,' said Hull chairman Adam Pearson ahead of theclash.[LNB]There were signs, as early as the fourth minute, that Dowie'spresence in the dug-out may earn them a change of fortune away fromhome.[LNB]Kevin Kilbane, one of three changes Dowie made, floated a cross fromthe left to the back post and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink looped aheader against the upright, with Folan not quick enough with hisreactions to tap home the rebound.[LNB] False dawn: Caleb Folan slides in Hull's second [LNB]Hull opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a goal that cameafter Jimmy Bullard had two long-range efforts, the second of whichdeflected off Aaron Mokoena for a corner.[LNB]Bullard's corner was cleared by Frederic Piquionne to the edge ofthe area where Craig Fagan's shot, helped by Folan's deflection,wrongfooted James. It was credited to Folan, his first goal sinceHull's first game of last season.[LNB]Pompey's equaliser came eight minutes from the break, also from acorner. From O'Hara's delivery, Piquionne met the ball again and thistime returned it to the danger zone, where Smith prodded home.[LNB]Hull may have felt unfortunate to be level at the break afterthreatening James' goal and inducing mistakes from the 39-year-oldgoalkeeper.[LNB] Poacher's instinct: Tommy Smith pulls Portsmouth level[LNB]When he rushed out to take the ball off Folan, James slid out of hisarea and earned a yellow card, then the striker intercepted a backpassbut was forced too wide to inflict damage.[LNB]Dean Marney also had an effort fly just wide, while Fagan went over the crossbar in the 50th minute after a decent run.[LNB] Off he mark: Caleb Folan and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink wheel away after Craig Fagan's opener[LNB]Folan's second goal came after referee Phil Dowd touched the ball inthe build-up, with Richard Garcia slipping his team-mate through toslot home.[LNB]O'Hara was furious with Dowd but responded by curling a deliciousfree-kick into the top corner with three minutes remaining. There wasstill another twist,with Nadir Belhadj racing down the left and crossing for Kanu to slot home. [LNB] Pompey fall guy Peter Storrie says: Don't blame me over cash woesAvram Grant faces increased scrutiny over selection after reserve claimsHull must keep paying manager Brown - possibly until the end of next season!PORTSMOUTH FC
