Defiant Pompey drag Hull into mire

Portsmouth dealt a crushing blow to Hull’s hopes of Premier League survival with a late fightback to claim a 3-2 win that denied Iain Dowie victory in his first match in charge.

Portsmouth, who were effectively condemned to relegation earlier this week when the Premier League imposed a nine-point penalty for the club going into administration, were 2-1 down with three minutes remaining at Fratton Park.

But goals in quick succession from Jamie O’Hara and Nigerian veteran Nwankwo Kanu gave Avram Grant’s side their fourth win of the campaign and left Hull to rue their failure to close out a match in which they twice led.

Grant resisted fielding a weakened team, as he had threatened in the aftermath of the Premier League’s decision, while Dowie replaced the suspended George Boateng and the injured Kamil Zayatte and Jozy Altidore with Kevin Kilbane, Paul McShane and Caleb Folan.

Dowie’s reign almost got off to a flier with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink heading a Kilbane cross against the woodwork.

Pompey went close with a Marc Wilson free-kick that curled just wide of Boaz Myhill’s post but it was Hull who claimed the lead in the wake of two long-range strikes by Jimmy Bullard.

The second of those earned a corner that was cleared to the edge of the area, from where Craig Fagan unleased a shot that beat David James with the help of a deflection off Folan.

Pompey equalised eight minutes before half-time. Frederic Piquionne steered O’Hara’s cross into the six-yard box and Tommy Smith marked his return from injury by prodding the ball over the line from close range.

Folan’s second was controversial, with referee Phil Dowd touching the ball before Richard Garcia put his team-mate through.

O’Hara led the protests to the official but he made his point even more forcefully with his cultured left foot, curling a free-kick into the top corner with three minutes remaining.

A minute later, Nadir Belhadj sprinted clear on the left and sent in an inviting cross that Kanu eagerly polished off to leave Hull dangling above the trapdoor to the Championship.