Honours even in relegation battle

After six goals, one red card and 90 minutes of non-stop action, Hull and West Ham were left exactly where they started following a 3-3 draw at the KC Stadium.

Manuel Da Costa’s 69th-minute equaliser earned West Ham a point after Hull had been reduced to ten men by the straight red card issued to Bernard Mendy for a professional foul.

But Gianfranco Zola’s relegation-threatened side will rue their failure to capitalise on the early 2-0 lead they established through headers from Guillermo Franco and Jack Collinson.

A Carlton Cole own goal, a superb strike by Kamil Zayatte and a Jimmy Bullard penalty ensured the home side were in front by the break but they paid the price after Mendy was red carded for pulling down Scott Parker when the midfielder had a clear run at goal.

Franco nodded in a Junior Stanislas corner for West Ham’s opener then turned provider with the delivery that enabled Collinson to send a looping header over Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke.

Hull got themselves back into the game mid-way through the opening period when a Bullard free-kick deflected off Parker and then Cole before looping over the unfortunate Robert Green.

Bullard claimed the goal but there was no disputing that it would go down as an own goal.

Hull’s equaliser came just before the break. Stephen Hunt sent in a a free-kick from the right and Zayatte beat Green with a stunning volley.

West Ham looked rattled and quickly conceded a penalty when Julien Faubert was adjudged to have pulled down Craig Fagan just inside the box.

Bullard smashed in the stoppage time penalty for his first goal for the club.

The momentum was definitely with Hull at that stage but West Ham were given a lifeline after Mendy was ordered off eight minutes into the second period.

Stanislas curled his shot wide from the resulting free-kick but West Ham made the numerical advantage count when Hull failed to clear a corner, allowing Da Costa to score from close range.

West Ham finished stronger but Hull held on for a point after Luis Jimenez, whose shot found the side netting, and Stanislas, who headed over, both wasted late chances.