Manucho´s late strike boosts Hull´s survival hopes

Angola striker Manucho boosted Hull’s hopes of staying in the Premier League with the late goal that snatched a 1-0 win at Fulham on Wednesday.

Manucho, on loan from Manchester United, scored his first goal in English football in stoppage time at Craven Cottage to give the Tigers their first league win since December and only their second success in 19 league matches.

It was a crucial intervention by Manucho as Hull are now five points clear of the relegation zone just as it seemed they were in danger of slipping into the survival dogfight.

Hull boss Phil Brown gambled with his team by picking Geovanni, who had been at the centre of a storm on Sunday when he reacted furiously to Brown’s decision to substitute him against Blackburn.

The Brazilian midfielder was back in the starting line-up and came close to scoring early on with a free-kick that flashed just wide.

Daniel Cousin brought Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer into action for the first time with a looping header that the Australian claimed easily.

Fulham forward Bobby Zamora has found his goal-touch in recent weeks, but although he showed good skill to jink through the Hull defence, he couldn’t hit the target.

Zamora teed-up Davies with an astute pass late in the first half, but the Wales midfielder miscued his effort over the bar.

Roy Hodgson’s team were on top after the break as well. Andy Johnson forced a fingertip save from Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke seconds after the break.

It needed another fine stop from Duke to deny Dempsey’s powerful strike before Johnson’s effort was cleared off the line by Mendy.

Zamora’s confidence seemed to plummet by the minute and the five million pounds buy from West Ham squandered a simple tap-in from three yards out.

Duke kept out Dempsey and then Michael Turner tackled Johnson in the nick of time as Fulham searched in vain for a late winner.

But the decisive blow came from Hull with Richard Garcia finding Manucho deep into stoppage time and the striker fired home from close range.