Until Stephen Hunt’s close range header made it 2-1 with just under 20 minutes left, Hull City simply weren’t in this game, yet still escaped with what could yet prove a most valuable point.

Bolton weren’t much better but totally dominated a match blemished by horrid football and more horrid weather, and took the lead when Ivan Klasnić steered a low shot past Boaz Myhill after City could only half-clear a free kick.

It wasn’t a good night for Myhill, who then conceded a soft second after the break when he misjudged a Paul Robinson free kick and missed his punch entirely thanks to Kevin Davies getting his head there first and finding the empty net.

City looked beaten and dreadful and the future looked most bleak for Phil Brown, but then Hunt headed in Craig Fagan’s cross to restore hope (and score City’s first goal not from a set-piece or penalty since November 8th). Bolton manager Gary Megson then incurred the wrath of many fans by withdrawing the resourceful Klasnić, and the vitriolic reaction seemed to get to the rest of the Bolton players. City took advantage when Hunt steered home his second with 12 minutes left.

Both sides could have won it, with Bolton’s Gretar Steinsson seeing a shot deflected wide and City sub Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink volleying over, but upon the final whistle it was City who were much the happier. Both sides remain in the bottom three of the Premier League. Match report to come.

Class told in the end, but Hull City put in a sterling performance against the reigning Premier League champions which bodes well for the much more season-defining game against Bolton Wanderers in 48 hours’ time.

An entertaining and gripping first half saw the Tigers denied a clear penalty when the excellent Richard Garcia was tripped by Wes Brown, then Seyi Olofinjana had a close-range volley brilliant kept out by United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak. The half seemed certain to end goalless until Wayne Rooney popped up to slide home a Darren Fletcher cross in the second minute of added time.

City reacted well in the second half and got their reward when Jozy Altidore was pushed over by Rafael in the box (all from a bad Rooney back pass) and Craig Fagan showed fine composure to send the vowel-lacking keeper the wrong way. Chances then went begging before United restored the lead through Ryan Giggs’ break and Rooney’s cross, which a desperate Andy Dawson put into his own net as Ji Sung Park closed in.

A truly sublime low cross from Rooney beat defenders and keeper all ends up to let Dimitar Berbatov tap in the clincher and while defeat keeps the Tigers second bottom, where they had been following the earlier fixtures, the performance gives everyone hope that Bolton can be turned over on Tuesday night, especially as Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United again provide the three opponents thereafter. Our recent record on match reports isn’t outstanding but there might be one on this game before long.

The Tigers fell to defeat at Arsenal yesterday, eventually going down 3-0 after another controversial game between the two sides..

A lacklustre display from Arsenal combined with a resiliant offering from the Tigers looked to have been enough to see the game enter the interval goalless, until a superb free-kick from Denilson beat Boaz Myhill. Dismayingly for those of an amber persuasion, it was the latest in a frustratingly long line of, um, interesting decisions from Steve Bennett, who earlier in the half could have shown red to Samir Nasri for his clash with Richard Garcia.

City ought to have levelled in the second period when Fagan’s shirt was pulled in the area and Mr Bennett pointed immediately the spot. Sadly, Geovanni’s penalty was quite astoundingly poor, allowing Almunia an easy save  – the rebound was headed wide, and with it went our chances. Arsenal scored soon after through Eduardo, and although City’s heads dropped the scoreline remained relatively undamaging, only a marvellous goal from Diaby adding to it late in the day.

City now lie just a point and a place above the bottom three, and only three points from the bottom. Next up: Manchester United…

Both sides had good chances to win it, but ultimately a goalless draw seemed the most appropriate result between two largely formless sides at the KC Stadium.

Craig Fagan couldn’t beat Paul Robinson in a one-on-one situation in the first half, while Richard Garcia squandered a chance of almost equal straightforwardness when he shot at the ex-England keeper after the break.

Blackburn’s Franco Di Santo spurned two good second half chances, with recalled City keeper Boaz Myhill apparently saving one as much with his arse as his legs, while Kamil Zayatte had to clear from under his own bar late in the game with Myhill beaten. The visitors had the better opportunities but were deeply unappealing on the eye, while City left their best centre forwards on the bench and sorely, sorely missed Jimmy Bullard’s careful creativity.

Still, a point is better than nothing and Phil Brown will be happy with a clean sheet. We’ll all be delirious if we get one at Arsenal next Saturday – lest we forget that an Arsenal player is still to score a Premier League goal against us at the Emirates. Full match report of this tough-on-the-eye occasion to come, though don’t expect it to be a long one.