United survive Tigers fright

Man United 4, Hull City 3

PREMIER League new-boys Hull City threatened another upset as Manchester United were given a rare fright at Old Trafford.

Just as it was bizarre to see Hull arriving on Saturday above the Reds in the league table, it was an unusual sight to watch United desperately lumping the ball upfield in the dying minutes as the Tigers hunted for an equaliser to preserve their unbeaten record on the road.

Midfield player Michael Carrick described it as a “crazy” afternoon - and that summed up perfectly an enthralling game.

When United established a 4-1 lead early in the second half, it looked over as a contest when you bear in mind champions-elect Chelsea were the last side to score three goals at Old Trafford in 2005.

But Hull reproduced the spirit which has made them the surprise package of the campaign.

And it was frustrating for Sir Alex Ferguson, who was critical of his side for allowing Hull back into the match.

The Reds manager declared: “It was incredible, a game we should have won by ten but ended up scrambling a victory.

“You have to give credit to Hull who were a determined and energetic team.

“Not taking our chances was annoying as we could have scored 10 or 11 goals. We frittered them away and were then left almost embarrassed.”

The Reds took a shade under three minutes to break the deadlock when Cristiano Ronaldo marked his 250th appearance with the first of two goals.

It followed a move of quality as Ronaldo’s cheeky back heel released Dimitar Berbatov who played a return pass for the winger to cut inside before finding the net with a low drive which flew in off an upright.

Hull were unfazed and were on level terms midway through the opening period when Daniel Cousin found the net with a delightful glancing near-post header from Turner’s free kick.

United regained the lead just short of the half-hour mark after another slick passing move which ended with Carrick bursting through to score with a well-placed shot which went in off the inside of a post.

And when Ronaldo scored his seventh goal of an injury-interrputed campaign in the 44th minute, a bullet header from Nani’s corner, it looked over as a contest.

That was reinforced when Nemanja Vidic volleyed in a fourth from Wayne Rooney’s corner.

But by that time United ought to have been even further ahead as Berbatov twice shot narrowly wide and Ronaldo wasted a great chance to complete his hat-trick.

Those misses began to look as though they might prove costly as Hull staged their recovery.

Substitute Bernard Mendy seized on a poor defensive header from Patrice Evra before lobbing keeper Edwin van der Sar. Though Vidic produced a spectacular clearance the referee’s assistant got it spot-on by ruling the ball had crossed the line.

Hull added a third goal in the 82nd minute as United were suddenly afflicted by the jitters after Ferdinand pulled back Mendy and Geovanni scored from the penalty spot.

It set up a nervous finish which had appeared highly unlikely only 13 minutes earlier, though Hull never came close to an equaliser as substitute Ryan Giggs and Berbatov both wasted injury-time chances which would have sealed a bigger victory for the Reds.