Blackburn Rovers v Hull City: Tigers left with nothing after further Ewood Park misery

Instead, the Tigers’ poor record at Blackburn continued last night as under-pressure Blackburn manager Steve Kean was handed some much-needed respite from his terrace critics.

The Rovers chief was bombarded with abuse throughout from the home fans in a crowd of 13,562, the lowest for a league game at Ewood in almost 20 years.

Such is the antipathy felt towards Kean, in fact, that the locals even greeted the mocking chant from the away seats of ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ with a huge cheer and a round of applause.

However, thanks to the predatory instinct of former Sheffield United striker Colin Kazim-Richards with 14 minutes remaining, Kean was able to enjoy the sweet taste of victory for only the sixth time in 2012.

As he basked in the rare afterglow of claiming all three points, the contrast could not have been more marked for those whose loyalties lay with the Tigers.

Where the Blackburn manager felt only relief, the 1,000 or so City fans were instead left with an overriding feeling of ‘what if?’

Hull, employing a three-man central defence for the first time under Steve Bruce, were the better side over 90 minutes and created the better openings.

Crucially, though, neither Nick Proschwitz nor Sone Aluko could apply the final touch to gilt-edged chances either side of Kazim-Richards’s predatory strike.

The upshot was a disappointing trip back across the Pennines for the Tigers contingent after missing out on the chance of joining Blackpool, the only side who now boast a 100 per cent record after two games, at the top of the Championship table.

During the first half, the prospect of City ending the evening empty-handed seemed remote as the new-look defence gave the visitors the solid look Bruce had called for in the wake of the opening day win over Brighton. So impressive were the Tigers that Ben Amos did not have a save to make and it was no surprise that the Rovers players left the field at half-time to jeers from the disenchanted locals.

Hull, by contrast, departed for the sanctuary of the dressing room with the appreciation of the travelling fans ringing in their ears.

But for the agility of Paul Robinson, the Tigers would have had a precious lead to go with that richly-deserved applause.

The former Leeds United goalkeeper had reacted smartly to the danger when Proschwitz had been played through by Aluko and raced from his line before pulling off a stunning block to deny the German.

City also had a good shout for a penalty turned down on the stroke of half-time after Robert Koren, again fed by Aluko, was clattered to the ground by Gael Givet.

By then, the Slovenian’s heavy touch had seen the ball run towards Robinson but, even so, there could be little doubt that the Hull midfielder was brought down although referee Tony Bates merely waved the visitors’ appeals away.

Rovers did improve marginally after the break with Danny Murphy, Kean’s marquee signing of the summer, seeing much more of the ball.

Dickson Etuhu, another new arrival brought in on big wages from Fulham, also started to see more of the ball.

However, even allowing for the former Craven Cottage duo’s increased involvement, Hull appeared in little danger as the game entered the final quarter.

That was, however, until a deep cross from Etuhu was headed back across goal by Bruno Ribero.

Alex Bruce, making his first start for City following his summer move from Leeds United, reacted quickest but in attempting to clear the danger he could only fire against Marcus Olsson.

As the Hull defence tried to scramble across the six-yard box, Kazim-Richards was then in the right place at the right time to fire through the melee.

The jeers of the home fans – which had been growing with each passing minute of the second half – suddenly turned to cheers.

Soon, though, the default setting of the locals had returned with the final stages being played out to the background of more anti-Kean chants.

Hull, who had gone close before the strike when Joe Dudgeon headed a Liam Rosenior cross into the side netting, did have one final opportunity to pile the pressure on the beleagured Blackburn chief.

However, when Aluko was played through by Rosenior with nine minutes remaining on the clock, the former Rangers man scuffed his effort straight at Robinson.

The relief on the Rovers goalkeeper’s face told its own story, as did his reaction deep into stoppage time when Aluko curled a free-kick from a hugely promising position over the crossbar.

It meant there was to be no reprieve for City, whose miserable run at Ewood Park stretching back more than four decades now stands at just two wins from their last 15 visits.

Blackburn Rovers: Robinson; Orr, Givet, Dann, Olsson; Lowe, Murphy, Etuhu, Dunn (Ribero 62), Kazim-Richards (Pedersen 85), Fabio Nunes (Gomes 62). Unused substitutes: Kean, Jorge, Edinho, Hanley.

Hull City: Amos; Rosenior (Mclean 88), Chester, Faye, Bruce, Dudgeon; McKenna (Simpson 83), Evans (Cairney 73), Koren; Proschwitz, Aluko. Unused substitutes: Oxley, Stewart, McShane, Olonfinjana.

Referee: T Bates (Stoke).