Woodgate dents Hull´s survival hopes

A late goal from England defender Jonathan Woodgate gave Spurs what could be a crucial three points in the fight against relegation as they beat fellow Premiership strugglers Hull 2-1 here on Monday.

Woodgate’s header – in what was his 50th appearance for the London club – four minutes from time gave Spurs only their second win in their last 10 Premier League matches and first away win since beating West Ham on December 8 last year.

For Hull relegation appears to be a real possibility as they have registered just one victory in their last 17 Premier League Games and are now just six points above the drop and one above Spurs.

Hull had gone close to taking the lead a quarter of an hour in but it was not of their making – as Woodgate’s header back to Spurs ‘keeper Carlo Cudicini went past the Italian but he recovered to avoid conceding an embarrassing own goal.

However, Spurs were ahead two minutes later as Hull inexcusably left Aaron Lennon unmarked at a corner and Croat Luka Modric, seeing his team-mate unattended, passed to him and he made no mistake with an impressive shot.

The hosts recovered their composure after that blow – which had come against the run of play – and 10 minutes later they were deservedly level as Michael Turner turned the ball into the net after a corner kick had been missed by Cudicini and the ball had cannoned off Spurs midfielder Wilson Palacios.

The second-half started in lively fashion with Spurs forcing two early corners with Darren Bent going closest as his shot was saved by Matt Duke, though, the Spurs striker should have done better.

Hull went down the other end and Republic of Ireland international Kevin Kilbane had a shot from a corner blocked by two Spurs players after another piece of nervy goalkeeping by Cudicini.

Spurs Croatian international fullback Vedran Corluka was just the woodwork away from restoring his side’s lead when his header from Modric’s freekick beat Duke but came back off the crossbar.

Hull hit back, though, as Kamil Zayatte put in a good header with just under a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, only for it to come off the far post as both sides pressed for what would probably be the winner.

That eventually came four minutes from the end and to the disappointment of the home fans it was Spurs who grabbed it as Woodgate rose to meet Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s cross and beat Duke – though the central defender had to leave the pitch a couple of minutes later with a head wound.