Hull City beat Aston Villa 2-0 at the KC Stadium this evening to leapfrog their opponents in the Premier League table and climb out of the relegation zone in the process.
The Tigers took the lead with a quarter of the game gone through Nikica Jelavic's heavily-deflected effort, which found its way past Brad Guzan via the boot of Ciaran Clark.
It was an uninspiring game overall with chances kept to a bare minimum for both of these struggling sides, but in the end Dame N'Doye sealed things with a goal on his first start for the Tigers, finding the target at the second attempt to see off the opposition.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look back at how the 90 minutes of action unfolded on Humberside.
Match statistics
HULL CITY
Shots: 8
On target: 4
Possession: 38%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 16
ASTON VILLA
Shots: 9
On target: 4
Possession: 62%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 11
Was the result fair?
In a game of very few chances for either side, it was the hosts who just about did enough to lay claim to all three points at the KC Stadium this evening. This game was billed as a tussle between two teams who have badly struggled with form lately, and it was clear to tell with the game devoid of any real moments of quality throughout.
Hull largely had January recruit N'Doye to thank for the points, with his strength being using to good effect to help seal the three points which lift them out of the bottom three and into 15th place, at the expense of their opponents who fall the opposite way into the relegation zone with games fast ticking down.
On this showing Villa have to seriously improve in an attacking sense, because while they may have ended their barren run in front of goal last time out, the clock continues to tick on their last goal away from home which now stands at close to eight hours. They are showing serious relegation form at the moment, with this their fifth defeat on the bounce.
Hull City's performance
Having played in Jelavic for the game's breakthrough moment, N'Doye then went from provider to scorer with 15 minutes remaining to round off a sparkling full debut for the Tigers. Steve Bruce's men may have been just moments away from pulling off a huge victory at Manchester City on the weekend, cruelly denied at the last minute by James Milner, but their win never really looked in doubt this evening. That in large is more down to Villa's lack of cutting edge than anything else, although Hull remained compact when they needed to and found their goalscoring edge thanks to the new man up top.
Since Mike Phelan joined the backroom staff a week or so ago, Hull have picked up four points to claw away from danger, and maybe now a corner has at last been turned. Far more is needed judging by these 90 minutes alone, yet supporters of the Humberside outfit will care little at this stage because anything other than a win here tonight would have spelled disaster. As it is, with just 13 games left to play, the Tigers are now looking up for the first time in a while rather than over their shoulders.
Aston Villa's performance
It is a case of same old for Villa fans, who once more will trudge back down the motorway feeling as though they have been massively short changed. Their side offered next to nothing, restricted to a couple of wayward strikes from range plus a Gabriel Agbonlahor effort which Alan McGregor barely had to break stride to collect, while the Scotland international was only really called into action late on to produce a fine double stop. The Villans are dropping down the table at an alarming rate, and the most pressing issue is the fact that, now without a win in two months, that slide does not look like stopping anytime soon.
Benteke was dropped once more this evening, as was Tom Cleverley who has come under intense criticism from the stands of late, although the change in approach with Scott Sinclair afforded a first start did little to change their fortunes. Defence does not appear to be the issue, with that heavy thrashing at Arsenal aside the only real dent in recent months, but it is at the other end where the West Midlands club have struggled. It has been well publicised just how much Villa have struggled in front of goal, and it could very well cost them dearly if this one is anything to go by. Paul Lambert simply needs to get more out of his underperforming side, starting with demanding an improvement when it comes to movement in the attacking third from his players, or else unlike in previous campaigns this established Premier League outfit could be heading for the drop.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Dame N'Doye: A superb all-round showing from the Senegalese, who bagged a goal and an assist on his first start for the Tigers. Jelavic's strike on 22 minutes was as straightforward as you like, with three touches from keeper McGregor to the back of the net via N'Doye's well-placed through-ball. It is a partnership which could very well pay huge dividends for Hull in the closing months of the campaign.
Biggest gaffe
There is only so much blame the manager can take. Is it really his fault that his star players, namely January buy Carles Gil, cannot beat the first man at a corner kick time after time? In fairness to the Spaniard, it was not just his side restricted to poor deliveries, with City also badly struggling to get the ball into a decent area from crosses.
Referee performance
This was a feisty affair for large parts, although there were very few challenges which warranted anything other than a stern talking to. The official brandished his yellow card on just three occasions in a game bereft of any real flash points.
What next?
Hull City: There is now an 11-day wait before Hull return to action with another massive home game, this time against Queens Park Rangers. The mini-break has come at the wrong time for them, however, with four points from six this week a solid return.
Aston Villa: Lambert and co. will have a welcome break from league woes this coming weekend with a local derby meeting against Leicester City to contend with in the FA Cup. Stoke City follow seven days later at Villa Park.
Daniel Lewis
