Hull City 3 - 3 West Ham United

Ten-man Tigers hold on

Updated: November 21, 2009, 8:13 AM UK

Ten-man Hull held on for a point after staging a remarkable fightback against fellow Premier League strugglers West Ham.

• Zola reflects on "crazy game"

The Tigers looked to be heading back into the bottom three as West Ham raced ahead with early headed goals from Guillermo Franco and Jack Collison at the KC Stadium.

Hull hit back when Carlton Cole deflected a Jimmy Bullard free-kick into his own net and the game then turned on its head in the closing two minutes of the first half.

Kamil Zayatte equalised with a powerful volley and Bullard then struck from the penalty spot but West Ham claimed a draw through Manuel da Costa after Bernard Mendy was sent off.

The result was enough to ensure both sides ended the day sitting outside the relegation zone.

A compelling game got off to an extraordinary start as West Ham scored twice inside the opening 11 minutes.

The tempo was set from the first minute as Cole, returning to the West Ham side from injury, broke free to set up Valon Behrami but Matt Duke easily saved.

Craig Fagan then forced a fine save out of Robert Green at the other end but referee Mark Clattenburg had already blown blew for a foul on Da Costa.

Hull were almost caught out as Junior Stanislas broke to tee-up Cole but Andy Dawson just got back to block his fierce shot.

The Tigers did not escape damage for long as Franco found space to head in Stanislas' cross from the resulting corner with five minutes on the clock.

Hull could have equalised moments later as Bullard and Jozy Altidore both had shots blocked in a goalmouth scramble but Fagan then stabbed wide.

It proved a costly miss for Hull as West Ham doubled their lead soon after.

Franco sent a speculative cross into the area but Collison got ahead of Dawson to meet it with a looping header that dropped over Duke.

Yet Hull, led by the effervescent Bullard, refused to let spirits drop and got back into the game thanks to a stroke of fortune after 26 minutes.

Altidore won a free-kick on the edge of the area and there was little on Bullard's mind other than shooting as he lined up the free-kick.

His initial effort appeared on target but it would not have found its way in had it not bounced up of Scott Parker and then skimmed Cole's head to arc over Green.

Hull then pressed for an equaliser and Bullard picked out Mendy with a superb crossfield pass but the Frenchman's effort was blocked by Danny Gabbidon.

West Ham did not hold out much longer and, remarkably, Hull were in front by half-time.

First Stephen Hunt clipped in a free-kick from the right and Zayatte turned unmarked to volley powerfully past Green.

West Ham were then stung again as Fagan went down easily under a challenge from Julien Faubert on the edge of the area.

Clattenburg pointed to the spot and Bullard smashed home to emphatically open his Hull account.

Despite the turnaround, the game was far from over and West Ham were given a way back in as Hull were reduced to 10 men after 53 minutes.

Clattenburg had no option other than to send Mendy off as he slid in to deny Parker a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Hull survived as Stanislas curled his shot wide from the resulting free-kick and Duke had to be alert when the same player tried his luck from distance.

West Ham were rewarded for a good spell of pressure when they pulled themselves level after 68 minutes as Hull failed to clear a corner and Da Costa blasted in from close range.

West Ham pushed for a winner but substitute Zavon Hines was booked for diving when he tangled with Dawson on the edge of the area after a strong run.

Hull's hearts were in their mouths when Luis Jimenez found an opening to shoot but he could only find the side-netting.

Hull wanted another penalty when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink went down under a Matthew Upson challenge but Clattenburg played on.

Stanislas headed over a late chance for West Ham and Duke also saved from Collison as Hull held on.

Zola reflects on "crazy game"

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola reflected on a "crazy game'' after his side claimed a 3-3 draw at 10-man Hull.

Zola said: "I think it was a crazy game. When we were 2-0 up I couldn't see them coming back because we looked in control. Their first goal was a deflection, maybe the second goal we should have done better and the third goal was a penalty that wasn't a penalty at all.

"After that it was tough to come back but the reaction from the team was excellent and I am delighted for them. At the end of the day we have got a point and it could have been more because we had a couple of chances to get another goal.''

Zola added: "It was a strange game. Maybe we could have handled it better when we were 2-0 up but I have to say they came back really well. Hull City played a good game and did very well to do what they did.

"I'm sure it wasn't a penalty for them. Referees sometimes make mistakes and you can't do anything about that. The important thing for me was the reaction. I am delighted about that.''

After playing for final 37 minutes with a numerical disadvantage, Hull will take heart from the result. Coming after their victory over Stoke in their last outing, the Tigers have lifted spirits after a gloomy start to the campaign.

Manager Phil Brown said: "We found ourselves 2-0 down but we were playing well enough. They were trusting each other with the ball and were probing and confident. We were causing West Ham problems. You need a bit of luck to get the first goal but then West Ham went on the back foot. Consequently we got a second and then a soft penalty - but a penalty nonetheless.''

Brown had no complaints over the sending off but felt his side should have had a second penalty when substitute Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink felt he was impeded by Matthew Upson.

Brown said: "It's absolute classic. Matthew Upson is climbing all over him and if he gives the first one the second one is an absolute stonewall certainty. If you look at that penalty, I am disappointed with a point - but I am grateful for a point in the Premier League at any stage.''

Brown also hailed the impact of record signing Bullard, who has made a significant impact since returning from a knee injury. He said: "You can't keep a good man down, you can't knock a guy like Jimmy. Jimmy has got team-mates around him that are trusting him with the ball. That trust has brought a belief and that has brought confidence. Consequently we played some very good football.''

Brown was surprised when told of today's announcement that his former boss at Bolton and good friend Sam Allardyce, now manager at Blackburn, is to undergo a heart operation. He said: "Obviously I am concerned and I will be on the phone to him as soon as I can.''