Hull came back to claim a point in what was a thrilling contest at the KC Stadium on Saturday afternoon- just one change was made by the hosts as Dean Marney replaced the injured Seyi Olofinjana, and a first shot of the game arrived within just 50 seconds as Jack Collison fired an attempt straight at Matt Duke in the Tigers goal from 20 yards. Both sides were playing good football but the Hammers carried the more attacking threat, and with five minutes gone they took the lead when Guillermo Franco headed in from a corner. It was clear from this moment on that the clash would perhaps begin to resemble pinball rather than football, as just four minutes later City could have been level after Jimmy Bullard’s ball back into the box following a Stephen Hunt corner found Craig Fagan, though he couldn’t quite adjust himself to fire in a shot.

And that proved costly as the visitors seized the initiative and got a second goal after Franco’s ball found Collison, who headed over the goalkeeper to increase West Ham’s lead. The hosts were continuing to play a passing game but not quick enough to trouble the opposition until just before the half hour mark when a foul on Jozy Altidore brought the opportunity for a free kick- taken by Bullard, it looped past Robert Green courtesy of deflections off first Scott Parker then Carlton Cole, and the game was on.  To again use the pinball analogy, the game was tilting towards the opposition as they again went on the attack, Parker being denied a penalty after a challenge from Anthony Gardner despite his protestations. But then another turn came just before half time as another free kick to the home side saw Kamil Zayatte unleash a volley from Hunt’s set piece, and remarkably the Tigers were awarded a penalty in added time as Julien Faubert was adjudged to have pushed Fagan as they competed for the ball inside the box, Bullard stepping up to the plate and giving the keeper no chance from the spot as well as completing a remarkable turnaround in fortunes as his side went in for half time with the lead.

Article continues below