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match-reports
Sat 16 Aug 2008, Kingston Comms StadiumReferee: P Walton
 Team Lineup 
1
Myhill
21
Ricketts
   
6
Turner
30
Gardner
3
Dawson
   
14
Garcia
(73)
4
Ashbee
20
Boateng
8
Barmby
(61)
10
Geovanni
23
King
(69)
Substitutes
15
Mendy
18
Folan
(69)
7
Fagan
   
(73)
9
Windass
16
Halmosi
(61)
12
Duke
22
Marney
 
 Match Quotes
Hull City manager Phil Brown
"The spirit of the football club was there for everybody to see. The fitness levels in the second half were incredible, as was the passion and the drive. The character was tremendous. Before the game we said to the players that Fulham didn't travel too well last season, and we tried to exploit their weaknesses. We stuck to a game plan and the substitutions changed the game late on. I'm really happy because there weren't many times last season we came from behind to win. Could I have asked for more? I would have liked a clean sheet as those are going to be very important this season."

- Phil Brown

 
Hull City 2
Fulham 1
Scorer: Geovanni (22)
Scorer: Folan (81)
Scorer: Ki-Hyeon (8)
Attendance: 24525 FT (16:54)

 

Substitute Caleb Folan hit a late winner as Hull City came from behind to claim a thrilling victory against Fulham in their first ever match in the top flight of English football.

The hosts fell behind to Seol Ki-Hyeon's header after eight minutes, but hit back with a stunning Geovanni equaliser halfway through the first half.

Then with nine minutes remaining, Craig Fagan pick-pocketed Paul Konchesky and set up Folan to secure the points.

Fulham, who won their last three away matches of last season to stay up, created the first opportunity after Seol out-sprinted Michael Turner on the left, but Simon Davies was unable to convert the cross.

Then Hull powered forward and came desperately close to taking the lead.

Richard Garcia headed Andy Dawson's left-wing cross across goal, but debutant Mark Schwarzer produced a superb save to claw away Geovanni's goalbound header. Schwarzer then recovered well to scramble clear Ian Ashbee's follow-up.

However, Fulham took advantage of some poor defending to open the scoring.

acrobatic volley

Jimmy Bullard was given plenty of time to cross from the right wing, and Seol burst into the penalty area to beat Bo Myhill with an angled header into the bottom left corner.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of Hull, and Davies came close to adding a second when his drive from 15 yards deflected over the bar.

From the resulting corner, Bullard's delivery was fired just over by John Pantsil, and from another corner moments later, Davies' acrobatic volley flew just wide as Fulham began to dominate.

However, out of nowhere, Hull levelled the score with a magnificent strike from Geovanni.

The Brazilian, who joined from Manchester City on a free transfer in the summer, cut inside from the right flank and curled a tremendous left-footed shot into the left corner from 20 yards.

Hull were gaining confidence on the ball, and Nick Barmby came close with a header following a deep Sam Ricketts cross late on in the half.

Zoltan Gera failed to take advantage of an excellent opportunity within two minutes of the restart when he beat the offside trap, but scuffed the ball harmlessly wide from 10 yards.

sliced wide

Hull responded though, and Turner headed Dawson's corner a yard over the crossbar.

Geovanni then missed a glorious chance to give the home side the lead when he sliced wide from six yards after latching onto Barmby's cross.

Fulham, who had offered little in attack since the break, suddenly woke up, and George Boateng had to be alert to block a shot from Bullard.

However, Hull continued to look the more likely to score, and Garcia forced Schwarzer into a fine low save after good work by Peter Halmosi on the left.

Hull manager Phil Brown then used up all of his remaining substitutions, bringing on Folan and Fagan for Marlon King and Garcia respectively.

Two of the replacements then combined to give Hull the lead.

Fagan robbed the hesitant Konchesky near the byline, and unselfishly squared for Folan to slide the ball into an empty net.

 

 Fantasy Player Pick
Geovanni of Hull City

Geovanni

(Hull City)
The Brazilian scored on his debut to set his side up for a precious win.
 IKTS Snapshot
Four per cent
Only four per cent of IKTS players correctly predicted a 2-1 home win for Hull City.
Please note: Fixtures are subject to change. Reproduced under licence from Football DataCo Limited. All rights reserved. Licence no. NEWMEDIA/PREMLGEGE/167142a. Copyright © and Database Right The FA Premier League/The Scottish Premier League/The Football League/The Scottish Football League Limited 2008. All rights reserved. No part of the Fixtures Lists may be reproduced stored or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of Football DataCo Limited.
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 Team Lineup 
1
Schwarzer
4
Pantsil
5
Hangeland
18
Hughes
3
Konchesky
25
Davies
13
Murphy
(85)
7
Ki-Hyeon
(84)
21
Bullard
11
Gera
9
Zamora
(80)
Substitutes
23
Dempsey
(80)
22
Stoor
26
Andreasen
(85)
10
Nevland
(84)
33
Kallio
6
Teymourian
19
Zuberbuhler
 
 Match Quotes
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson
"We were prepared for the game, but we just didn't play as well in the second half as we did in pre-season. In the first half I think the team were coming together well and we played some good football. It became a fight at both ends in the second half, and in those circumstances it was always possible a defensive error would settle the match, which is what happened. It's tough to come away without a result after the first half performance, but Hull were very motivated in the second half, they chased things down, and we made some mistakes as a result."

- Roy Hodgson

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