Altidore ends league wait but insists main goal is all about Hull's survival

The 19-year-old striker, who joined the Tigers last summer from Villarreal on a season-long loan deal, netted in only his second appearance for Hull as Southend United were beaten in the Carling Cup second round last August.

In the league it has been a different story with the USA forward having to wait until Saturday's 2-1 win over Manchester City to claim his first goal.

He said: "Not scoring in the Premier League was not playing on my mind. I hadn't really been thinking about it.

"It is not really the style that has been hard to come to terms with, more that it is a very fast league. It takes time to adjust when you are a young player.

"The speed and the pace is huge but I feel to be finally getting there."

Altidore's 31st-minute opener and his all-round performance drew a standing ovation from the 24,959 crowd when he was replaced by Amr Zaki midway through the second half.

Being substituted by manager Phil Brown continued the striker's record of never having completed 90 minutes in a league game for the Tigers but he insists all that mattered was the Yorkshire club ending a

10-game run without a win.

Altidore said: "It is a challenge to play here and the main goal all along has been to keep Hull City in the Premier League.

"It was one of our better team performances. We started well and that allowed a lot of individuals to show off their skills. We stepped up and it gives us confidence."

Hull's first win since Everton were beaten at the KC Stadium on November 25 was enough to lift Brown's men out of the relegation zone.

Following on from the heartening draw at home to Chelsea four days earlier, the victory over the world's richest club has given the entire squad a major boost in the fight to avoid the drop.

Altidore said: "It was a hard game. I don't think either Manchester City or Chelsea were easy games but we put in 100 per cent of effort.

"We have to keep putting in the performances week-in and week-out. That will give us a chance."

Brown's assistant Brian Horton, a former manager of Manchester City, said: "It is all about learning how to win a game and we saw it out. We have now taken four points off two of the best sides in the country.

"I thought the spirit running through the football club was shown out there. I was delighted for the lads.

"We scored two great goals. Jozy needed a league goal so that was special, and then George Boateng smashed a real beauty in."

Asked if the four points taken off Chelsea and Manchester City represented Hull's best four days since being promoted to the top flight, Horton added: "We had a great week last season when we won at Arsenal and Tottenham. But in terms of this season, the past four days have been the most enjoyable.

"What we have to do now is come back in Monday morning with our feet on the ground. Blackburn got done at Stoke so it is now a big game for both clubs."