Captain Dawson scores again to earn point for resurgent Hull
Michael Dawson has often been a protector of goals during his career, but he has suddenly taken on a much-needed role as a regular scorer. The Hull captain netted for the third time in five games since returning from injury in October, to again help salvage a result for his troubled team, who are suffering from absences up front.
Hull had been booed off by some fans at the break, without a shot on goal to their credit, and trailing 1-0 against West Brom, who had been the better side. Dawson, though, hooked in an equaliser after a knock-down by Dieumerci Mbokani, from a Robert Snodgrass free-kick. In the previous home league game, Hull had also trailed 1-0 at the break – against a dominant Southampton – but Dawson had headed in the winner in a 2-1 victory, also from a Snodgrass free-kick.
Dawson’s goal here meant that Hull finally had something to celebrate in the wake of a painful 3-0 defeat at Sunderland seven days earlier. On that occasion, the former Tottenham defender had allowed Jermain Defoe, his former team-mate, to score.
Hull manager Mike Phelan said: “Michael is a very experienced player, he loves being captain and he plays his part. He makes mistakes, like everyone. He was probably at fault last week against Sunderland, but he’s experienced and he learnt from it.”
With a backdrop containing swathes of empty seats, Hull could do little to enliven their supporters, as West Brom began on the front foot. Considering that Tony Pulis’s team do not always need a lot of possession – and they were away from home here – it was surprising to see just how much they dominated the ball.
Although clear-cut chances were rare, a warning arrived for Hull when Salomón Rondón laid the ball off for James Morrison, but he shot wide.
The breakthrough came when the in-form Matt Phillips delivered a corner and Gareth McAuley headed in, with too much ease, rising above the marking of Hull’s former West Brom defender Curtis Davies. It was not the last time that a set-piece troubled Hull in the half, as Craig Dawson glanced wide another delivery from Phillips.
Phelan needed to do some repair work and the introduction of Adama Diomandé was the injection of threat his side needed, Mbokani having been isolated in a one-man attack during the first half. The home team soon started threatening, with attempts from Snodgrass and Jake Livermore.
The pressure was mounting when Dawson struck the equaliser from six yards. Afterwards, Hull had to withstand a late bout of West Brom attacking, with David Marshall keeping out a Nacer Chadli strike, but the Yorkshire club were worthy of their point. “In the first half, we were really good and should have created more,” said Pulis. “In the second half, you’ve got to give Mike and Hull credit.”