One Hull of a job for Blues boss Cotterill

WATFORD’S boy from Brazil was up to his tricks once again.

Last weekend at Swansea, Hornets winger Richarlison popped up in the dying seconds to snatch a third away win on the spin for Mario Silva’s high-fliers.

And yesterday, the £11.5million summer signing from Fluminense repeated that feat as he produced the last meaningful act of a pulsating showdown.

Nipping in unmarked at the far post, Richarlison headed home from close range to snatch a dramatic point.

That was enough to preserve Watford’s unbeaten record on the road – and leave them in fifth place overnight.

While the travelling fans went delirious, the West Brom faithful were left feeling positively sick at the setback in time added on.

Silva hailed the never-say-die spirit of his team – and particularly that of hero Richarlison, still only 20.

The Hornets boss said: “He’s a huge talent, an amazing boy. Today was a tough afternoon for him, he suffered a lot. But the boy never gave up.

“We need to support him every day to improve because I am sure he will achieve fantastic things in his career. I see in him different things to a normal Brazilian footballer.”

Until Richarlison’s last-gasp equaliser, the Baggies were on course for a first win in six in all competitions – and poised to leap ahead of the visitors in the table.

A rare goal from Salomon Rondon had given them the edge and when Jonny Evans headed in a second in the 21st minute, they seemed to be cruising.

However, Silva’s troops have shown a new resilience under the Portuguese coach and fought back magnificently. They thoroughly deserved a share of points – no matter how long it took them to earn it.

Until then the day had belonged to West Brom forward Rondon.

In fact, it was a case of ‘Remember where you were’ when he broke the deadlock.

Until his 18th-minute solo effort, the hard-working Venezuelan had not scored at The Hawthorns since way back in December

2016.

Indeed, he had only been on target once in

27 games anywhere before yesterday. There seemed little danger when Grzegorz Krychowiak won possession inside his own half.

But showing his ability, the midfielder pinged a fine ball over Watford’s high-pressing central defenders.

That said, few would have backed Rondon to make it into the box and retain his composure to score.

He did exactly that. Christian Kabasele bounced off Rondon when attempting to barge him off course – and could only watch the Baggies forward’s angled drive fly in.

If that took everybody by surprise, West Brom’s second four minutes later was rather more predictable.

Abdoulaye Doucoure attempted to clear Matt Phillips’ corner but succeeded only in glancing it to the back post where Evans nodded home.

It was all way to easy and, perhaps, Albion players felt that way too.

When Andre Carrillo failed to convert in front of an open goal in the 35th minute the danger signs were there.

However, West Brom ignored them and soon after Doucoure made amends for his earlier mistake by waltzing into the area and drilling low into the far corner.

And that set the pattern for the second period as the Hornets, clearly lifted by that reply, piled on the pressure after the break.

At times, Albion could barely get a touch such was their dominance. The only ingredient missing in the opening 15 minutes after the break was an equaliser.

Etienne Capoue came closest with a fierce 18-yard drive that was deflected inches wide – with Baggies keeper Ben Foster rooted to the spot.

And in the 64th minute, Silva was left fuming when ref Michael Oliver denied his side an opportunity to level from the spot.

Ahmed Hegazi appeared to be holding Kabasele at a corner but the man that mattered waved away the penalty appeals.

Concerned Pulis shuffled his pack and the introduction of James McClean appeared to have checked the onslaught.

Until, that is, the Irishman conceded a foul four minutes into injury time.

And that was the signal for Kabasele to send a free-kick deep into the hosts’ area – and Richarlison to bury his second vital goal in successive games.

Pulis was livid with the free-kick award that ultimately cost his side two points – and only a fourth league win in 19 games.

He said: “The challenge from McClean is a fair challenge. He plays the ball and he’s nowhere near the player. And the referee again has got a great view of it.

“That’s two games in a row where a decision like that has gone against us.” STEVE COTTERILL saw the sizeable challenge awaiting him at struggling Birmingham as he saw his new side crushed at Hull.

Cotterill was at the KCOM Stadium ahead of taking the reins from caretaker boss Lee Carsley on Monday.

But watched the Blues put in a limp, jaded display as Hull clinched their first win in six Championship matches.

Strikes from Fraizer Campbell and the in-form Jarrod Bowen, either side of David Meyler’s penalty put the Tigers three goals to the good inside the first 26 minutes.

And second-half efforts from Kamil Grosicki, Markus Henriksen and Seb Larsson gave shell-shocked Birmingham and Cotterill plenty to think about.

They ended the scoring through substitute Sam Gallagher.

But that will be little consolation for a side that looked to have turned the corner under Carsley, having claimed four points in the two games that followed Harry Redknapp’s sacking.

Hull were only a point clear of the drop zone at the beginning of the day and their midweek defeat to Preston left boss Leonid Slutsky apologising to the club’s supporters.

But his Tigers players responded almost from the off on a day to remember.

Slutsky said: “We played very solid and we kept our high level all match and the result was coming.”

Carsley accepted responsibility for his short-term role as caretaker manager ending on a sour note.

But he questioned the mentality of some of his players.

He said: “I thought that maybe I could squeeze another performance out of them by picking the same team, but I probably underestimated the Championship a little bit.”