A brace from Dame N'Doye fired Hull City to a vital 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in their battle against the drop in the Premier League this afternoon.
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The home side should have taken the lead in the fifth minute when Hull failed to clear a cross into the box and the ball fell kindly for Glenn Murray, but the forward could only fire his effort straight at Steve Harper.
The Tigers had a great opportunity to go in front when Robbie Brady whipped a pinpoint cross into the box which found the run of N'Doye, but the unmarked striker somehow miscued his strike with the goal gaping.
Hull maintained their pressure as Tom Huddlestone lined up an effort from distance, and only a good save from Julian Speroni prevented the ball from finding the top corner as the keeper tipped his strike past the post.
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Steve Bruce's men had a glorious opportunity to take the lead just before the break when Jake Livermore was presented with the ball on the edge of the area, but the midfielder could only chip the ball into the hands of an out-of-position Speroni.
In the second half, Hull went close again as Ahmed Elmohamady raided down the right flank and fired a cross into the box for N'Doye, but his header was well saved by Speroni as he tipped the ball past the post.
The visitors finally made their pressure tell when they went ahead in the 51st minute. Brady made a bustling run down the left and squared the ball into the path of N'Doye, who made no mistake from close range.
N'Doye had the chance to double his side's advantage when he collected a pass from Huddlestone in his stride on the edge of the box, but his powerful strike went just inches past the post.
Palace made a late surge for an equaliser, but struggled to carve out a clear-cut opportunity with the closest they came a Jason Puncheon, drive which sailed wide of the target.
The home side thought that they had got back into the game when Yaya Sanogo nodded past Harper, but his effort was chalked off for a foul on Paul McShane before Liam Rosenior's dipping volley came crashing off the bar at the other end of the pitch.
Hull secured their win as N'Doye notched his second goal of the game in the dying minutes, courtesy of a neat finish on the break.
Simon Sinclair
