Fellaini scored the 1st

By Tiger Tim
January 11 2009

Hull travelled to Everton looking to somehow find a result to end their dreadful run. Hull had only won once in 11 games before the game and took on an Everton side who had taken 13 points from their last 6 games.

Everton started the brightest but it was Hull who had the 1st chance, Barmby scuffing a shot wide. Michael Turner had a chance from a corner on 10 minutes but his header went wide. Hull were pressuring Everton but couldn't get to many chances on target. It was Everton who took the lead on 18 minutes, Baines sent a cross in from the left and Fellaini headed home from close range, replays show it was clearly a yard offside. Fellaini had a great chance to double Everton's lead on 27 minutes a cross from Cahill which fellaini headed wide.  

Both sides we're having spells of possession but neither side could create chances. The game became scrappy and disjointed. On 34 minutes Turner had a shot from outside the area but he sent it wide of Howards post. Two minutes were added at the end of the 1st half and in the 1st minute added on Everton got their second, Arteta smashed a free kick in Myhills top corner great goal from the Everton midfielder. The 1st half ended 2-0 to Everton.

The second half was disjointed and stop start with a string of bookings and several substitutions. The 1st chance of the second half didn't come to  until the 66th minutes, Arteta having an effort from a free kick  which was high and wide. Hull tried to change the game going 3 up top but with 10 minutes remaining and not having many chances it didn't seen Hull were going to get anything from the game. Everton had a shout for a penalty on 82 minutes but the referee said no. The loose ball came to Osman who fired over.

Hull's only chance of the second half came on 86 minutes! Cousin heading well over from 15 yards out. The game ended 2-0 to Everton and Hull's dreadful run continues it's now 1 win in 11 from Hull. Everton sit 6th in the table and are looking good for a place in Europe. Hull remain in 8th .

Phil Brown:
"Our whole season has been unhinged by a succession of officials and decisions we are not happy with.

"The first goal was a bad decision from an assistant referee who is looking right along the line of the defence.

"It killed us. We worked on not giving Fellaini space in the six-yard box, and we achieved that. But he was in an offside position in space we had left him in by squeezing out.

"Arteta's goal would have made it 1-0 at the break and we would still have been in the game. But I have players with blood all over their shirts, so they gave it everything in that second period."

David Moyes:
"It is another win, another clean sheet and although Hull made it a scrap, we deserved the win.

"Referees we have had recently have been very good, but I don't think this one was. And we have had an offside goal, that was clear.

"I will be straight with things that affect both sides, and our first goal was offside. I have to be fair.

"The downside was the booking for Fellaini. I have seen it now on TV and the Hull lad ducked his head down to about four feet off the ground, Fellaini is looking at the ball and toe-pokes it away - it can't seriously be dangerous play, you are entitled to challenge for that."

Everton: Howard, Hibbert, Jagielka, Lescott, Baines, Osman, Arteta (Rodwell 90), Neville, Pienaar, Fellaini, Cahill (Anichebe 73).

Subs Not Used: Nash, Van der Meyde, Castillo, Jutkiewicz, Gosling.

Booked: Fellaini, Cahill.

Goals: Fellaini 18, Arteta 45.

Hull: Myhill, McShane (Halmosi 79), Zayatte, Turner, Ricketts, Mendy, Ashbee, Marney (Fagan 54), Geovanni (Cousin 66), Barmby, King.

Subs Not Used: Duke, Doyle, France, Boateng.

Booked: Mendy, Zayatte, Ricketts, Cousin, Fagan.

Att: 37,527

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).