Dawson rides to the rescue again to send Hull fans home full of cheer
MICHAEL Dawson is paid to stop the opposition but it is the defender’s goals which are keeping Hull off bottom right now.
The Hull skipper was the match-winner last time out at the KCOM Stadium, when they came from behind for a 2-1 victory over Southampton. And Dawson was the hero again as he salvaged a point for his side to deny West Brom, riding high in the top half of the table, from clinching a third straight win.
The 33-year-old former England centre back has scored three times since returning last month after a serious knee injury. To give his goal run some context, you have to go back nearly four years for his previous three strikes.
Tigers boss Mike Phelan said: ‘Michael loves being captain of this football club and he is playing his part. We’ve been lacking in the goalscoring department but Michael has got another, which is great.’
Hull were booed off at the break as they trailed to Gareth McAuley’s headed opener, but a spirited second half saw them being cheered at full-time.
It could have been different, however, had West Brom striker Solomon Rondon not headed wide in stoppage time when unmarked just four yards from goal.
‘This side has plenty of endeavour and we improved in the secondhalf,’ Phelan said.
He acknowledged that the result could have been different. ‘I could have been sat here talking about a defeat,’ he said. Rondon ‘should have done better’.
Tony Pulis, the West Brom manager, said: ‘I thought it was in from where I was. But Rondon played very well and that would have been the icing on the cake.’
Pulis’ side looked set for victory after dominating a first half in which Gareth McAuley gave them a deserved lead with his fourth of the season.
The visitors were in front on 34 minutes when Matt Phillips swept an in-swinging corner on to the brow of McAuley and he powered home from six yards. At the other end Hull offered nothing — literally, not a single effort on goal — and there were ironic cheers when, on 50 minutes, Hull winger Robert Snodgrass took aim for the opposition target, his 25-yard strike comfortably gathered by Ben Foster.
Mocking chants of ‘We’ve had a shot’ came from the home end.
That must have served as inspiration because suddenly Hull found their rhythm and Jake Livermore was unlucky not to level when steaming onto Markus Henriksen’s pullback before seeing his low
shot kept out by the fingertips of Foster.
The visiting keeper was again called into action on the hour when Snodgrass bent a low free-kick around the wall and he scrambled to palm clear.
But there was nothing the former England keeper could do to prevent Dawson’s scruffy leveller.
As the Baggies lost their bounce in the second period, Dawson bundled in 18 minutes from time.
Snodgrass loaded a freekick into the area from the left and, when the ball dropped amid a crowd of bodies inside the six-yard box, Dawson toed the ball into the bottom corner.
West Brom, though, should have stolen maximum points in stoppage time. James McClean was the provider with a wicked delivery but Rondon somehow headed wide.
HULL (4-5-1): Marshall 5,5; Elmohamady 5.5, Dawson 7.5, Davies 5, Tymon 6 (Robertson 90min); Snodgrass 6.5, Livermore 6, Clucas 6, Henriksen 5.5 (Meyler 88), Mason 5 (Diomande 46, 5); Mbokani 5. Booked: Dawson, Clucas. Subs (not used): Maguire, Huddlestone, Jakupovic, Bowen.
WEST BROM (4-4-1-1): Foster 6.5; Dawson 6, McAuley 7, Evans 6.5, Nyom 6; Brunt 6, Fletcher 5.5 (McClean 64, 6.5), Yacob 6, Phillips 7 (Robson-Kanu 83); Morrison 6 (Chadli 79, 5.5); Rondon 6. Booked: Evans. Subs (not used): Olsson, Gardner, Galloway, Chadli, Palmer.
Referee: P Tierney (Lancashire) 6.5.