Tigers and Magpies share spoils

Hull and Newcastle remain entrenched in the relegation battle after they drew 1-1 at the KC Stadium.

Stalemate in basement battle

Hull and Newcastle remain entrenched in the Premier League relegation battle after they drew 1-1 at the KC Stadium. Brazilian playmaker Geovanni fired Phil Brown's men into an early lead but Steven Taylor had the Magpies level before the break. With so much riding on the game, it came as no surprise that the opening exchanges lacked fluidity and became a battle of wills in the middle of the park. However, the scrappy start soon gave way to an entertaining contest and it was the hosts who struck first after nine minutes. Craig Fagan wriggled away on the left and floated over a pinpoint cross for Geovanni to nod home. Newcastle looked rattled, but came back into the game as the half wore on and were level six minutes before the break. Nicky Butt's centre took a slight deflection on its way towards Taylor, but he made no mistake as he guided a controlled volley into the far corner. The second half began in much the same manner as the first, with both teams struggling to take control of proceedings. Jonas Gutierrez wasted a couple of promising opportunities for the visitors, while Manucho was a threat for the Tigers after stepping off the bench. Shola Ameobi almost got a look in with time running out, but defences were well on top by that stage and the game meandered towards a conclusion.

Tricky

The Yorkshire side were allowed to dominate the opening half-hour as Newcastle continually gifted Brazilian playmaker Geovanni space to attack. The former Barcelona player threatened from early on with a tricky run into the box but Fabricio Coloccini covered. Bernard Mendy also had an opening on the right but, after initially getting the better of Jose Enrique, the Newcastle left-back recovered and blocked. Hull then grabbed the lead in the ninth minute after a swift counter-attack started and finished by Geovanni. His spat with manager Phil Brown after being substituted a fortnight ago consigned to the past, Geovanni relished the chance to break from inside his own half after a Newcastle attack broke down. He powered forward to release Fagan down the left and then continued his run into the box to head firmly past Steve Harper after being picked out by a fine return cross. It was his seventh goal for Hull since his summer move from Manchester City but his first since playing against his former club in November. Obafemi Martins curled a shot just over as Newcastle tried to respond but a wide-open Geovanni caught the visitors out again, only to deliver a poor cross.

History

Fagan, who has history with Newcastle after his leg was broken in the reverse fixture last September, was booked for confronting Taylor following a clash between the pair. Geremi was also given a yellow card moments later for a foul on Kamil Zayatte. Sebastien Bassong then clashed with Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke in a scrappy passage of play. But Hull retained the upper hand and Geovanni won a free-kick on the edge of the area after being clipped by Geremi. His curling effort looked to have Harper beaten but it just drifted wide of the post. Newcastle levelled against the run of play seven minutes before half-time when Butt crossed and Taylor flicked a well-controlled volley over Duke from the near post. Daniel Cousin had a chance to restore Hull's lead before the break but shot well wide and Fagan also fired over with an overhead kick. Newcastle appeared to tighten up early in the second half and Brown changed things for Hull by swapping Cousin for Manucho.

Blocked

Martins had a good chance on the volley for the Magpies but Hull skipper Ian Ashbee blocked. Manucho, buoyed by his late winner at Fulham, was quickly into the action and forced Harper to save low down after being fed by Mendy. A good run by Geremi then allowed Martins to set up Gutierrez but the Argentinian curled his effort over. Martins had another chance after getting ahead of Sam Ricketts but he could not make firm contact with a shot as Duke closed him down. But Newcastle switched off again and Mendy should have punished them after breaking clear down the right. Manucho was unmarked in the box but the Frenchman badly mishit his cross and a relieved Harper was able to gather. Hull appeared to settle for a point as the clock wound down and they spent most of the closing stages defending. Newcastle pressed but were unable to find a way through and, with their difficult run-in ahead, only time will tell if the draw proves good enough.

Hull City	Team Statistics	Newcastle United
1	Goals	1
1	1st Half Goals	1
2	Shots on Target	2
6	Shots off Target	7
1	Blocked Shots	3
3	Corners	3
21	Fouls	16
7	Offsides	2
3	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0
61	Passing Success	69.5
17	Tackles	13
70.6	Tackles Success	92.3
40.2	Possession	59.8
43.9	Territorial Advantage	56.1