The 2008–09 season was Hull City's first ever season in the English top flight and, by extension, the Premier League. Home games were played at the KC Stadium, which has a capacity of 25,404. On Friday 6 June 2008 Hull City announced they had sold out all 20,500 season tickets. Hull City's first ever top-flight fixture was a home game against Fulham, which they won 2–1. City finished the season in 17th place in the table, successfully avoiding relegation by the narrow margin of one point over Newcastle United. In the FA Cup, Hull reached the quarterfinals stage for the first time in 38 years, where they were knocked out by Arsenal with a controversial offside goal.
Players
Squad Updated 24 May 2009.
Transfers
In +DatePositionPlayerClub FromTransfer FeeReference2 July 2008FWCraig FaganDerby County£750,0005 July 2008FWGeovanniManchester CityFree11 July 2008DFBernard MendyParis Saint-GermainFree16 July 2008MFPeter HalmosiPlymouth Argyle£2,000,00016 July 2008MFGeorge BoatengMiddlesbrough£1.000.00016 July 2008GKTony WarnerFulhamFree29 July 2008DFAnthony GardnerTottenham HotspurLoan (made permanent 14 August for £2,500,000)8 August 2008GKMark OxleyRotherham United£150,00014 August 2008FWMarlon KingWigan AthleticLoan30 August 2008DFPaul McShaneSunderlandLoan31 August 2008DFKamil ZayatteYoung BoysLoan (made permanent 14 October for £2,500,000)1 September 2008FWDaniel CousinRangersUndisclosed23 September 2008FWStelios GiannakopoluosFree AgentFree14 January 2009FWManuchoManchester UnitedLoan15 January 2009MFKevin KilbaneWigan AthleticUndisclosed23 January 2009MFJimmy BullardFulham£5,000,000
Out +DatePositionPlayerClub ToTransfer FeeReference1 July 2008MFJay-Jay OkochaFree Agency Released3 July 2008MFDavid LivermoreBrighton and Hove AlbionFree5 July 2008FWHenrik PedersenSilkeborg IFFreeMFStuart ElliottDoncaster Rovers24 July 2008FWMichael BridgesCarlisle UnitedLoan9 January 2009FWDean WindassOldham AthleticLoan22 January 2009FWStelios GiannakopoluosLarissaFree30 January 2009DFWayne BrownLeicester CityLoan
Pre-season
Pre-season training Hull were one of the first Premier League clubs to start pre-season training. Between 4 and 11 July Hull trained in Bormio, Italy.
Preseason friendlies
DateOpponentsH / AResultScorersAttendanceNotes14 JulyNorth FerribyA0–4Dean Marney, Will Atkinson, Michael Turner, Nicky Barmby2,500 15 JulyWinterton RangersA0–4Geovanni, Delron Buckley, John Welsh, Joe Lamplough?? 19 JulyK.V. OostendeA1–1Geovanni, Thor Laleman??? 22 JulyChesterfieldA0–3Geovanni, Dean Windass, Caleb Folan??? 26 JulyCrewe AlexandraA4–0Calvin Zola 3, Nicky Maynard??? 29 JulyOldhamA1–1Caleb Folan, Lewis Alessandra??? 3 AugustHeartsA1–0Ksanavicius??? 9 AugustCA OsasunaH0–1Santiago Ezquerro???
Premier League
August–December Hull's Premier League opener was at home to Fulham. Hull started rather poorly and went behind after eight minutes from a Seol Ki-Hyeon header. Hull's comeback came when Geovanni scored from a shot from outside the box, the goal was Hull's first Premier League goal and Geovanni's first as a Hull player. In the second half Hull scored the winner from substitute Caleb Folan's shot when he slotted the ball into the net from Craig Fagan's low cross. Hull won the game putting them joint top of the league. Hull's second game was away against Blackburn Rovers. The home team scored first when Jason Roberts made it 1–0 in the 39th minute. Hull came back to get a draw; before half time Australian Richard Garcia scored with a header from a Craig Fagan cross. There followed a home game against Wigan which turned out to be a heavy 0–5 defeat. Sam Ricketts turned a corner from Kevin Kilbane in to his own net after 5 minutes to open the scoring. Antonio Valencia scored after 13 minutes and provided the cross for Amr Zaki to stroke home in the second half. Five minutes later Emile Heskey scored from a poor clearance by Wayne Brown. Nine minutes from time Amr Zaki drove in off the crossbar to inflict the first defeat of the season on Hull.
An away game at managerless Newcastle United followed. Nicky Butt's foul on Péter Halmosi resulted in a penalty which Marlon King converted to open the scoring for City. He slotted home a second goal 10 minutes into the second half. Newcastle tried to get back into the match and a Charles N'Zogbia shot rebounded off the post to Xisco who finished to make the score 1–2. As full-time approached, Danny Guthrie was sent off for a foul on Craig Fagan, which broke Fagan's leg. The final score was a 1–2 City victory.
A home game against Everton followed in which City took the lead from a Dean Marney corner which was headed home by Michael Turner. Early in the second half another Dean Marney corner was turned in by Phil Neville for an own goal. Everton pulled one back when a Tim Cahill shot bounced in off the crossbar. They drew level minutes later when Leon Osman scored from close range to secure a 2–2 draw.
A trip to Arsenal provided a test for the City but they withstood the pressure during the first half. Following the restart the home team were soon in front when a Cesc Fàbregas shot found the net after deflecting off Paul McShane. City responded with a shot by Geovanni quickly followed by a Daniel Cousin header from an Andy Dawson corner. Arsenal's William Gallas hit the crossbar and Boaz Myhill saved a late shot from Cesc Fàbregas to give the visitors a 1–2 victory.
A further away game at Tottenham Hotspur followed. City raced into the lead with a free kick by Geovanni after just nine minutes. Tottenham's Gareth Bale and Jonathan Woodgate hit the woodwork, as did Dean Marney before half time. Neither side managed to score in the second half giving City a 0–1 victory.
After a break for internationals a home game against West Ham United was next up. City's Marlon King created the first opportunity with a cross to Daniel Cousin who volleyed just passed the post. At the other end Carlton Cole shot straight at Boaz Myhill. Dean Marney came close twice for City before Hérita Ilunga headed wide, Valon Behrami shot past the post and Craig Bellamy shot over the crossbar. The game was goalless at half time. Soon after the restart, a corner by Andy Dawson was headed home by Michael Turner to open the scoring. Carlton Cole nearly levelled immediately but his shot came off the crossbar. Kamil Zayatte almost had a second for Hull but shot over the bar leaving Hull with a 1–0 victory over the visitors.
An away match at West Bromwich Albion was the next action by the Tigers. Albion opened the stronger, with Ishmael Miller being blocked by Andy Dawson who picked up an injury which saw him being substituted for Sam Ricketts after only 10 minutes. Albion's Borja Valero had a shot that was saved by Boaz Myhill, Jonas Olsson hitting the rebound off the crossbar for Roman Bednář to miss the second rebound. On a break City gained a corner but Kamil Zayatte headed wide. A Daniel Cousin shot was deflected and Scott Carson scooped the ball off the line to leave the game goalless at half time. Soon after the restart City gained a corner and Kamil Zayatte volleyed home. Albion's Ryan Donk and James Morrison had shots saved before Marlon King put the ball into the area for a diving Geovanni to head in. Minutes later Marlon King was also on the score sheet after slotting in to the corner of the net, leaving it another away victory of 0–3 for City.
A mid-week home game against leaders Chelsea followed, with a record crowd at the KC Stadium. Chelsea were soon in the lead when Frank Lampard lobbed in. Soon after the break indecision in the City defence allowed Nicolas Anelka to run in and slot home. After missing several attempts Florent Malouda finally scored from six yards from a Ricardo Carvalho cross. City lost 0–3 in a match which could have been an even heavier defeat.
Then on 1 November the Tigers travelled to Old Trafford to play Manchester United away from home. The match was gripping, and after 3 minutes United scored only to be brought back to earth by the Tigers free kick headed in by Daniel Cousin. United went on to score a further 3 goals, but after half time the Tigers scored two more goals in the final few minutes through Bernard Mendy and Giovanni. The final score was 4–3 to Manchester United.
January–May Results
DateOpponentsH / AResultScorersAttendanceNotes16 AugustFulhamH2–1Seol (8), Geovanni (22), Folan (81)24,525 23 AugustBlackburn RoversA1–1Roberts (39), Garcia (40)22,618 30 AugustWigan AthleticH0–5Ricketts (5) og, Valencia (13), Zaki (63), Heskey (68), Zaki (81)24,282 13 SeptemberNewcastle UnitedA1–2King (34) pen, (55), Xisco (82)50,242 21 SeptemberEvertonH2–2Turner (18), Neville (50) og, Cahill (73), Osman (78)24,845 27 SeptemberArsenalA1–2McShane (51) og, Geovanni (62), Cousin (66)60,037 5 OctoberTottenham HotspurA0–1Geovanni (9)36,062 19 OctoberWest Ham UnitedH1–0Turner (51)24,896 25 OctoberWest Bromwich AlbionA0–3Zayatte (47), Geovanni (62), King (66)26,323 29 OctoberChelseaH0–3Lampard (3), Anelka (50), Malouda (75)24,906 1 NovemberManchester UnitedA4–3Ronaldo (3), Cousin (23), Carrick (29), Ronaldo (44), Vidić (57), Mendy (69), Geovanni (82) pen75,398 8 NovemberBolton WanderersH0–1Taylor (50)24,903 16 NovemberManchester CityH2–2Cousin (14), Ireland (37), (45), Geovanni (60)24,902 22 NovemberPortsmouthA2–2Crouch (20), Turner (54), Johnson (63), Windass (89)20,240 29 NovemberStoke CityA1–1King (45), Fuller (73) pen27,500 6 DecemberMiddlesbroughH2–1Tuncay (79), Turnbull (82) og, King (85) pen24,912 13 DecemberLiverpoolA2–2McShane (12), Carragher (22) og, Gerrard (24), (32)43,835 20 DecemberSunderlandH1–4Malbranque (10), Barmby (19), Zayatte (78) og, Jones (84), Cissé (90)24,917 26 DecemberManchester CityA5–1Caicedo (15,27), Robinho (28,36), Fagan (80), Ireland (82)45,196 30 DecemberAston VillaH0–1Zayatte (88) og24,727 10 JanuaryEvertonA2–0Fellaini (18), Arteta (45)37,527 17 JanuaryArsenalH1–3Adebayor (30), Cousin (65), Nasri (82), Bendtner (86)24,924 28 JanuaryWest Ham UnitedA2–0Di Michele (33), Cole (51)34,340 31 JanuaryWest Bromwich AlbionH2–2Mendy (44), Simpson (53), Fagan (69), Brunt (73) pen24,879 7 FebruaryChelseaA0–041,802 23 FebruaryTottenham HotspurH1–2Lennon (17), Turner (27), Woodgate (86)24,742 1 MarchBlackburn RoversH1–2Warnock (34), Andrews (37), Ashbee (79)24,612 4 MarchFulhamA0–1Manucho (90)23,051 14 MarchNewcastle UnitedH1–1Geovanni (9), S. Taylor (38)24,914 22 MarchWigan AthleticA1–0Watson (84)17,689 4 AprilPortsmouthH0–024,802 11 AprilMiddlesbroughA3–1Tuncay (3), Manucho (9), Bates (29), King (90)32,255 18 AprilSunderlandA1–0Cissé (45)42,855 25 AprilLiverpoolH1–3Alonso (45), Kuyt (63), Geovanni (72), Kuyt (89)24,942 4 MayAston VillaA1–0Carew (34)39,604 9 MayStoke CityH1–2Fuller (41), Lawrence (73), Dawson (90+5)24,932 16 MayBolton WanderersA1–1Steinsson (26), Fagan (47)25,085 24 MayManchester UnitedH0–1Gibson (24)24,945 Goal originally attributed as an own goal by Pamarot but later awarded to Windass after a review by the Dubious Goals Committee.
Results by round
Final league table
Records Top Goalscorer Geovanni – 8
Assists Bernard Mendy – 6
Appearances Michael Turner – 38 (Turner was one of only two outfield players in the Premier League to play every minute of every game)
Attendance Average: 24,816 Highest: 24,945 vs. Manchester United Lowest: 24,282 vs. Wigan Athletic
Squad statistics Updated 16 May 2009.