A game that was supposed to be about one left-winger became a tale of two. There was a crushing inevitability about Stephen Hunt scoring against Wolves, the club who have submitted three bids in a relentless pursuit of the Irishman. Yet the unexpected twist was supplied by Matt Jarvis, a man who could be displaced from his berth on the flank at Molineux by Hunt, but the supplier of a point here for Wolves.
He scored the second of two equalisers as goals from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Hunt were cancelled out by the visitors.
With the teenager Tom Cairney granted a league debut in the centre of midfield, Phil Brown picked a two-man strikeforce, a decision that was vindicated when they combined for the opening goal.
Indeed, Cairney instigated the move, picking out Jozy Altidore with a pass. What followed was an example of the American’s upper-body strength as he brushed aside Christophe Berra’s attempts to foul him before laying the ball for Vennegoor of Hesselink. His crisp, first-time shot defeated Marcus Hahnemann.
The lack of goals by the specialist strikers is an issue that has vexed Brown. Vennegoor of Hesselink’s was just the fifth in the league this season; as the Dutchman has the majority of them, albeit with just three, he is not the prime culprit.
Wolves’ first Premier League goal since 12 December entailed a moment of generosity from the opposition. First Hunt dallied in possession and lost the ball to Ronald Zubar. Then, after the right-back’s one-two with Kevin Foley, his cross should have been cleared by Anthony Gardner. Instead, the central defender’s slice looped over Boaz Myhill and into his own net.
Within two minutes, Hull had regained their advantage. Zubar undid his good work with a clumsy challenge on Altidore and Hunt compensated for his earlier error with an emphatic penalty.
But Wolves mustered a second equaliser. Foley crossed from one flank and Jarvis, cutting in from the other, met it with a drilled shot that beat Myhill at his far post.
Premier LeagueHull CityWolverhampton WanderersRichard Jollyguardian.co.uk
