Head boy Batth cools Lambo’s drop fears
WOLVES captain Danny Batth struck twice to ease their relegation fears with a comfortable win over Neil Warnock’s Cardiff.
The defender’s first-half double and a 82nd-minute finish from Helder Costa made it four straight wins for Paul Lambert’s side.
The skipper opened the scoring after nine minutes, only for Cardiff’s in-form striker Kenneth Zohore to draw City level three minutes later with his 10th goal in his last 11 appearances.
Batth, who had only scored once before this season back in August, grabbed another close-range header in the 41st minute before Costa struck late with his 12th of the campaign as Cardiff’s three-match unbeaten run came to an end.
Wolves boss Lambert said: “I thought we were excellent right from the off. Some of the football we played was fantastic.
“Costa’s goal was world class and that is the type of player he is. He is a top player.”
The hosts made the perfect start when Batth headed them ahead from inside the six-yard box.
The Blubirds failed to clear a Ben Marshall free-kick and the ball was headed back across goal by Andi Weimann for Batth to nod home.
However, the prolific Zohore ensured their advantage was short-lived when he caught goalkeeper Andy Lonergan off his line.
Jazz Richards lifted the ball forward and as Lonergan advanced, Zohore’s back header flew over him and into the empty net.
Aron Gunnarsson side-footed a great chance wide from 16 yards in the 27th minute.
And they paid the price when Marshall’s right-wing cross was nodded in at the far post by Batth.
Classy Costa sealed the win with a weaving run through the Cardiff defence before coolly rolling the ball past Allan McGregor.
Cardiff boss Warnock said: “I don’t think they won it, I think we lost it.
“Every time we crossed the ball we looked dangerous but we couldn’t finish, and Wolves took their chances.”
West Ham frontman Carroll made the breakthrough in the 18th minute for his seventh strike of the season.
But Hull left-back Robertson came up with his first top- flight goal on 53 minutes.
Italian central defender Ranocchia then struck five minutes from time to give the Tigers a massive boost in their bid to beat the drop.
Boss Marco Silva’s amazing home run continues. The Portuguese coach is now unbeaten in 39 home league games after spells at Estoril, Sporting Lisbon and Olympiacos.
But the heat is on Hammers boss Slaven Bilic after more speculation about his future as his side suffered a fourth successive defeat.
Hull boss Silva praised his side afer they earned the three points and said: “Of course, it doesn’t decide anything but they’re important points to us.
“But nothing is finished. I’m sure this fight will continue until the end of the season.’’
West Ham boss Bilic denied that he is set for the axe and said: “It is speculation and I said ages ago it doesn’t affect me. “I don’t read it but I know it is there. “The only way you can stop the speculation is if you win games or climb the table. After four defeats, of course I can expect even more speculation. But I wasn’t worried before, I am not worried now. I can’t affect it.
“I am doing my job, I am very motivated and very positive.”
Robert Snodgrass was booed by home fans as he made his return to the KCOM after a £10million January move.
But he missed a chance to silence the boo boys on 13 minutes when he headed straight at keeper Eldin Jakupovic despite claims he was offside.
His target man Carroll was more clinical.
Tigers skipper Curtis Davies failed to deal with Aaron Cresswell’s left-wing cross and Carroll took it on his chest and steered the ball past Jakupovic.
At the other end, visiting keeper Darren Randolph was almost caught out on the edge of the box by Abel Hernandez and clattered the Uruguayan as he cleared.
The Hammers goalie’s t roubles continued when he punched his own team-mate Carroll at a free-kick, leaving the big man needing treatment.
Hull threw on Poland winger Kamil Grosicki in place of Davies at the start of the second half.
And it paid off as his measured ball put Robertson through to beat Randolph with a cool finish.
The Tigers hit the post through Alfred N’Diaye before Grosicki blazed the follow-up wide in a frantic spell of play.
And Ranocchia headed in Grosicki’s late left-wing corner for his first goal for the club to complete the comeback.