RESULT! show Bruce boys Abel to table-topping character

STEVE BRUCE believed Hull showed character as they returned to the top of the Championship.

A penalty from Abel Hernandez (below) proved the difference between the sides, leaving the hosts still looking for a first win under head coach Slavisa Jokanovic.

Bruce felt that his side were well equipped to deal with contests such as the one at Craven Cottage.

He said: “I think it shows you how difficult the league is when I see Fulham in 19th position and see them play like they did today.

“You have to show a certain resilience, especially in the middle of winter coming to places like this.

“We know we are always capable of scoring a goal and it was a stonewall penalty.

“The ability to roll up

GREG ADAMS your sleeves and give nothing away and show resilience is what you need to be successful – it’s not all about playing nice football.” Home keeper Andy Lonergan was called into action after 12 minutes when he was able to get a hand to a shot from Hernandez.

Moses Odubajo deflected a clearance off Alex Kacaniklic on 38 minutes, after Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor saved from Tom Cairney.

Hull’s breakthrough came with 10 minutes left from the spot-kick from Hernandez, after Odubajo found his heels clipped by Lasse Vigen Christensen in the box.

But Fulham were still in the contest and McGregor was forced into an excellent fingertip save in injury time from a Jamie O’Hara free kick.

Fulham head coach Jokanovic said: “First of all, we are really disappointed after this situation in which we find ourselves today.

“I believe we played very well for 65 to 70 minutes.

“The game was clearly going towards being a draw and then we made one mistake and we lost the game.

“I thought it was a penalty – they caught us just for one second. I don’t know if it was an intentional trip.

“The plan is to look in the loan market, we have one week more in front of us. At the moment we are trying to do something.”

by

■ FULHAM..................0 HULL CITY............... 1

FULHAM:

Lonergan; Richards, Ream, Burn, Garbutt; Kacaniklic (Williams 73rd), Parker (Hyndman 77th), O’Hara, Christensen (Smith 83rd); Cairney, Dembele

McGregor; Odubajo, Maguire, Davies, Robertson; Snodgrass (Bruce 90th), Livermore, Hayden (Huddlestone 71st), Clucas, Diamé; Hernández (Elmohamady 86th)

Abel Hernandez P Tierney

HULL: STAR MAN: Ref: