Hull ease the pressure on boss Brown

Hull eased the pressure on beleaguered boss Phil Brown as the Tigers defeated Wigan 2-1 on Saturday to claim just their second win of the season.

Brown’s side have been in freefall since the New Year and last weekend’s 6-1 thrashing at Liverpool brought a deluge of criticism raining down on the Hull boss.

But goals from former Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Brazilian midfielder Geovanni at the KC Stadium lifted the gloom temporarily as Hull climbed out of the relegation zone by scoring twice in a league game for the first time since January.

Scott Sinclair got one back for Wigan in the final minutes but it was too little too late.

Hull were looking for only their third victory in 30 league outings and had a penalty appeal turned down in the second minute.

Stephen Hunt crossed from the left and goalkeeper Chris Kirkland scrambled back to claw it away from under the crossbar. The ball fell to Nick Barmby six yards out but his powerful shot rebounded off Maynor Figueroa and referee Mark Clattenburg dismissed claims for handball.

Wigan threatened for the first time when Charles N’Zogbia’s corner was pushed out to Hugo Rodallega by Boaz Myhill but the Colombian striker shot over.

Myhill then pushed away a low shot from Mohamed Diame and dived at the feet of Rodallega before Jason Scotland fired narrowly wide.

Wigan had won the corresponding fixture 5-0 last season but there was never any chance of a repeat.

Hull came closest before the break when Vennegoor of Hesselink met Geovanni’s cross with a glancing header that bounced just wide of the far post.

Vennegoor of Hesselink didn’t live to regret that miss as he opened the scoring on the hour.

The Dutchman diverted Dean Marney’s cross past Kirkland with a firm header at the near post.

Geovanni notched Hull’s second goal in the 68th minute after good work by Kamil Zayatte.

Emmerson Boyce gave the ball away on halfway and Zayatte powered into the area and clipped in a fine cross for the unmarked Geovanni to turn in from six yards.

Sinclair gave Wigan hope when he pulled a goal back three minutes from time when he converted the rebound after Jordi Gomez’s shot was saved.

But Hull survived a nerve-shredding five minutes of stoppage time to give Brown something to smile about at last.