Late Dawson leveller rescues tame Tigers
Hull City 1 West Bromwich Albion 1
West Brom's Salomon Rondon battles with Hull City's Michael Dawson. Photo: Scott Heppell/Reuters
Hull captain Michael Dawson cut through the KCOM Stadium gloom to grab a second-half equaliser and deny visitors West Brom a third straight Premier League win.
Gareth McAuley's 34th-minute opener looked set to send the Tigers sliding to another defeat on a cold and misty afternoon in East Yorkshire until Dawson got the finishing touches to a long-range free-kick from Robert Snodgrass, earning a 1-1 draw. The home side had failed to muster a single shot of any description in the opening 50 minutes and the Baggies looked in little danger of having their surge into the top half of the table halted.
Hull City's Josh Tymon tussels with West Bromwich Albion's Hal Robson-Kanu during the match at The Kingston Communications Stadium. Photo: Scott Heppell/Reuters
In truth a match that had promised little threatened to deliver even less in a low-key opening half hour.
The Baggies dominated possession but struggled to break through. They deserved their goal when Hull failed to deal with a Matt Phillips corner from the right. McAuley was on hand to head past helpless Hull keeper David Marshall.
Hull City manager Mike Phelan. Photo: Craig Brough/Reuters
The below-par first period ended with boos ringing around the KCOM Stadium from the home supporters.
But the half-time introduction of Adama Diomande injected more urgency into the Tigers front line, although Snodgrass's long-range effort in the 50th minute, which was saved by Ben Foster, drew ironic cheers from the home fans.
The Tigers grabbed the equaliser their second-half performance just about deserved in the 72nd minute when Dawson converted after being set up by Dieumerci Mbokani's downward header in the box.
And the visitors could have snatched the points in injury time when substitute James McClean sent in a cross from the right and Salomon Rondon headed wide from in front of goal.
