Hull City got their second Premier League win of the season as they beat Wigan 2-1 at the KC Stadium.
Lively second half sees Hull grab three points
Hull City got their second Premier League win of the season as they beat Wigan 2-1 at the KC Stadium.
After a dire first half with few chances at either end, the game exploded into life after the break as Hull raced into a two-goal lead as Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink got his first for the club and Geovanni added a second.
Substitute Scott Sinclair made an immediate impact from the bench for Wigan as he pulled one back for the away side with just three minutes remaining.
The goal set up a nervy finale for the hosts and they were made even more edgy when the fourth official signalled five minutes of added time for injuries.
Wigan piled on the pressure but were unable to find a second as Hull hung on for the win which lifts them out of the relegation zone.
After three consecutive defeats, Hull boss Phil Brown shuffled his pack for the contest by making three changes and moving Kevin Kilbane into central defence.
Newly-appointed captain Nick Barmby was one of the players to come in along with Dean Marney and Kamil Zayatte, and all three lined up in midfield.
Wigan, who won the corresponding fixture last year 5-0, were not surprisingly unchanged, with Jason Scotland again leading the line.
Penalty claim
The game got off to a lively start and Hull had a penalty shout declined with only two minutes gone.
Wigan were almost caught out as Stephen Hunt hooked in the ball from the left with his back to goal but goalkeeper Chris Kirkland scrambled back and clawed it away from under his crossbar.
It fell invitingly to the onrushing Barmby six yards out but his powerful shot rebounded off Maynor Figueroa and referee Mark Clattenburg dismissed claims for handball.
Marney then found space and tried his luck from distance but Kirkland was not troubled.
A deep cross-field ball from Hunt then picked out Barmby in the area but the former England international was unable to make firm contact with his volley.
Wigan had another chance when a Charles N'Zogbia corner was pushed out to Hugo Rodallega by Boaz Myhill but the Colombian shot over.
Myhill then beat away a low shot from Mohamed Diame and dived at the feet of Rodallega before Scotland fired narrowly wide after a strong burst.
Geovanni also shot over for Hull after a good run and Vennegoor of Hesselink then glanced a header just wide from the Brazilian's cross.
N'Zogbia was the first to be booked for a late challenge on Andy Dawson that saw play halted while the left-back received treatment.
After a lively opening period, the game went off the boil in the 20 minutes before half-time.
It was not until the second half that the game picked up again, with Wigan's Paul Scharner creating a chance but shooting well over.
Marney then won the ball in midfield for Hull and burst forward but his shot was deflected wide.
N'Zogbia found good space for Wigan and crossed for Diame but Paul McShane made a timely interception.
Opener
Hull grabbed the lead as Vennegoor of Hesselink claimed his first goal for the club on 60 minutes.
The Dutchman charged forward to divert Marney's corner past Kirkland with a firm header at the near post.
Scotland almost produced an instant reply with a shot wide but Barmby missed a chance to double the advantage when he miskicked in front of goal.
It proved to be Barmby's last action of the game before making way for Kamel Ghilas and handing the armband to Geovanni.
The Brazilian responded to grab Hull's second goal in the 68th minute after good work by 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.
Wigan gave themselves late hope when substitute Sinclair pulled a goal back in the 87th minute.
Jordi Gomez's shot from the right was beaten out by Myhill but Sinclair was well placed when the rebound fell his way and instinctively headed in.
Diame then shot over from the edge of the area as Wigan looked to snatch a point.
The signal for five minutes of injury time increased Wigan's belief but Hull held on despite a heart-stopping moment when Gomez went down in the area. He was booked for diving.
| Hull City |
Team Statistics |
Wigan Athletic |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
8 |
| 2 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 4 |
Corners |
2 |
| 15 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
0 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 63.2 |
Passing Success |
83.5 |
| 33 |
Tackles |
23 |
| 48.5 |
Tackles Success |
73.9 |
| 23.5 |
Possession |
76.5 |
| 47.3 |
Territorial Advantage |
52.7 |
|
