Blackburn 1 Hull City 0: Hull left stunned by Myhill's error and Boateng's unfortunate exit

THE sight of Chris Kamara keeping Sky Television viewers abreast of events from Blackburn last night prompted one home fan sitting below the gantry to spend most of the game shouting 'unbelievable, Jeff' at the top of his voice.

By the end of a tense Roses battle that went against Hull City, Phil Brown must have been tempted to adopt the former Bradford City manager's catchphrase – used when addressing Sky Sports anchorman Jeff Stelling – as his own.

Not only had the Tigers manager had to watch goalkeeper Boaz Myhill put through his own goal to gift Blackburn Rovers three points but Brown's side were also forced to play for more than 50 minutes with 10 men following the incredibly harsh red card shown to George Boateng.

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The veteran midfielder had been guilty of nothing more than showing total commitment and being a fraction of a second late when trying to win an aerial duel with Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Unfortunately, referee Lee Probert thought otherwise and was so keen to send Boateng off he had the card in his hand for a full two minutes as the Dutch midfielder received treatment on the floor.

No amount of protests from Boateng's team-mates could sway Probert, who made several questionable decisions – not least when allowing Paul McShane to stay on the field early in the second half despite appearing to barge into the referee's arm as he brandished a yellow card.

It was also an unfortunate night for Myhill, who despite making four excellent saves will always remember Ewood Park as where he netted his first own goal for the club.

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The Welsh international had started the game in promising form by twice keeping Blackburn out inside the opening 12 minutes.

First, he denied Ryan Nelsen with a one-handed stop after the Rovers captain had sweetly met Morten Gamst Pedersen's floated free-kick.

Then, El Hadj Diouf was left similarly frustrated as Myhill turned away a goalbound header from the Senegal striker who had cleverly found space at the back of the six-yard box.

At that stage and with two stunning saves to his name, the hero of Hull's goalless draw at Spurs last month seemed on course for another memorable 90 minutes.

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Unfortunately for the Hull goalkeeper, all that changed when he inadvertently played a part in Rovers going ahead.

Pedersen had started the 16th-minute move with a deft flick over McShane for Martin Olsson to chase down the Hull right flank.

After racing to the by-line, the Swede fired across goal from an acute angle in the hope one of his team-mates could apply the finishing touch.

Myhill tried to block, only to turn the ball into his own net off the inside of his leg.

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It was harsh on the visitors who had started brightly. Just two minutes before the goal, Hull had gone within a whisker of opening the scoring when Stephen Hunt drilled a smart shot goalwards only for former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson to pull off a fine reflex save.

If Hull felt aggrieved to be behind, however, it was nothing compared to their anger six minutes before the break when Boateng was sent off.

Brown was forced into a re-shuffle, the Tigers manager opting to withdraw striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and bring Seyi Olofinjana on in his place.

The switch meant Altidore had to play as a solitary frontman until Amr Zaki was brought off the bench midway through the second half as the Tigers switched to a 3-4-2 formation.

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However, with Rovers boasting one of the better home records in the Premier League, it was always going to be an uphill task for 10-man Hull to snatch an equaliser.

And so it proved as Blackburn continued to make their numerical superiority count with Nikola Kalinic going close with an ambitious overhead kick.

Brett Emerton was then played clear by neat approach play only for the Australian to be denied by Myhill who then brilliantly beat Gael Givet's header on to the crossbar.

Hull's frustration was then compounded at the final whistle when it was revealed both West Ham and Wolves had won to ensure a night that begun with optimism ended with Brown's men slipping to 17th place. Unbelievable, indeed, Jeff.

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Blackburn Rovers: Robinson; Salgado, Nelsen, Givet, Olsson; Pedersen, Nzonzi, Andrews; Emerton (Roberts 70), Diouf; Kalinic (Reid 90). Unused substitutes: Brown, Hoilett, Di Santo, Jones, Chimbonda.

Hull City: Myhill; McShane (Zaki 68), Mouyokolo, Gardner, Dawson (Zayatte 68); Fagan, Boateng, Cairney, Hunt; Altidore, Vennegoor of Hesselink (Olofinjana 44). Unused substitutes: Duke, Barmby, Garcia, Kilbane.

Referee: L Probert (Wiltshire).