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Hull City 0-1 Aston Villa
Match Reports, 22:13, December 30, 2008 ,
Kamil Zayatte's late own goal handed Aston Villa a fortunate 1-0 win at Hull to lift them into fourth position in the Premier League.
A dour match at the KC Stadium which looked all set to end goalless burst into life in the final few minutes when Zayatte turned a low cross into his own net.
The drama did not end there as Luke Young's injury time header from a Peter Halmosi corner hit his own crossbar, but referee Steve Bennett thought Ashley Young had handled it and initially awarded a penalty to Hull. However following discussions with his assistant, he correctly changed his mind and denied the Tigers any chance of grabbing a share of the spoils from the spot.
Hull started brightly and looked like they had gone ahead on five minutes when Bernard Mendy's cross into the Villa area was headed goal wards by Daniel Cousin. Brad Friedel fumbled the ball under what seemed to be a fair challenge from Nicky Barmby, but the Tigers' forward's resulting effort from close range was harshly ruled out for a foul against the Villa keeper.
Villa gradually stepped up a gear as the half wore on but they never really troubled Boaz Myhill in the Hull goal, while the hosts appeared happy to just keep it tight at the back and look to score from any set-piece opportunities.
The second half was similar to the first in that neither keeper was tested at all until two minutes from time when Ashley Young beat Sam Ricketts down the right wing and his low cross was turned past Myhill by the lunging Zayatte.
Villa then survived the 'penalty - no penalty' drama in the third and final minute of stoppage time to grab an unlikely victory out of absolutely nothing.
The three points lifts Martin O'Neill's men above Arsenal and into fourth position, level on 38 points with Manchester United, while Hull stay eighth on 27 points after a third straight defeat.