Hartson double tames tigers

By Noel Hadley
August 5 2006

John Hartson, a summer signing from Celtic scored early in the second half to break the deadlock in an open game which should have had a far higher scoreline.

He then doubled the lead in injury-time to finish Hull off moments after the visitors were denied a penalty.

The Baggies should have been 3-0 up by half time

Zoltan Gera set the tone in the opening minute, bursting down the right wing and breaking three tackles before crossing for Jonathan Greening, but the winger's shot was charged down.

soon after , Greening set up Gera, serving up a delicious cross for the Hungarian to attack, but Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill made a stunning point-blank range to deny him.

The Hull keeper was the hero again in the 10th minute, getting a crucial touch to turn Greening's header on to the post from Hartson's cross.

Gera then wasted a glorious chance when Paul Robinson's cross fell to him at the far post but he volleyed high and wide.

Hull were unable to cope with Albion's quick one-touch passing, but it was from a set-piece they created the next chance, Gera crossing for Hartson at the back post but the Wales international could not keep his header down.

Hull defender Michael Delaney was then fortunate not to turn the ball into his own net as he made a desperate lunge to prevent Steve Watson's cross from reaching Gera.

Hull's first real chance came in the 25th minute when summer signing Dean Marney managed to break free of the defence, but he sent his shot wide as West Brom goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler - starting in place of Manchester United target Tomasz Kuszczak - closed him down.

Hull's goal continued to live a charmed life, never more so than in the 37th minute when Hartson and Nigel Quashie had chances blocked in a goalmouth scramble before Ronnie Wallwork blasted wide.

At the other end, Ryan France - on to replace Stuart Elliott - wasted a free header, nodding wide from Marney's corner. The second half started with another glorious chance for the visitors.

Zuberbuhler missed Sam Ricketts' cross completely, allowing the ball to clatter off the post. It bounced back to Marney with the goal gaping but Davies got a crucial foot in to block his shot.

The baggies were now hanging on at the back, and they got a big break when Darryl Duffy headed over from a yard out after an inswinging cross from Craig Fagan was headed back across goal by Michael Turner.

It was then against the run of play that West Brom broke the deadlock in the 56th minute.

Quashie's neat chip found Hartson who spun away from Damien Delaney before lifting the ball over Myhill.

Hull sought to respond immediately as Myhill's long ball picked out Duffy on the edge of the area but he fired high and wide with Davies closing in.

As the clock ran down, John Welsh went down under a challenge from Junichi Inamoto as he lunged for a cross at the far post.

It looked a penalty, but the referee waved away the appeals and booked Welsh. With Hull still fuming, Quashie held the ball up on the edge of the visitors area before laying it off to the on-rushing Hartson who slid the ball under Byhill's dive to make it 2-0 to the Baggies to top an excellent performance.