Hull 0-1 Bolton: Victory is Taylor-made

The hull bubble has burst then, has it?

That is what the smart alecs who tipped a rapid return to the Championship for Phil Brown's Premier League up starts would have you believe.

This was the Tigers' third successive league defeat but it was more to do with what Bolton did right rather than what City did wrong.

That probably will not cut it with the critics who reckon Brown's brains have been bumbled after their sizzling start to the campaign.

But that would be doing a gross disservice to the visitors, who are now showing signs of recovery following their early season wobbles.

Reebok boss Gary Megs on has come under fire from frustrated Trotters fans, who want him out and their former number two Brown back in his place.

Brown made it clear ahead of this clash that was never going to happen.

He is happy in Humberside and also believes that the fans he left behind should get off Meg son's back and support him.

Maybe after two impressive triumphs - against Manchester City last week, and now this - the punters might just do that.

For the time being, though, Megson was just happy to celebrate his 50th match in charge with all three points.

And for that he can thank his brilliant keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen every bit as much as match-winner Matt Taylor.

Megson said: "I thought we played some good stuff and we were pretty useful in defence when we had to be as well.

"Jussi will get all the headlines although, up until the last 20 minutes, he didn't really have that much to do.

"But in that final period he was unbelievable, putting in as good a goalkeeping performance as you'll ever see."

Brown said: "For me, Jussi is the best in the Premier League.

He's had 10 or 11 years there and I can remember many moreper formances from him like the one today."

The Hull manager added: "It was a bitter day for me because we ended up getting nothing from a game that we did enough to win.

"I cannot fault my players for commitment and effort but, in the first half, our passing was not up to its usual tempo.

"We put that right after the break, but then came up against a keeper who decided to have a blinder."

Jaaskelainen worked wonders to keep out efforts from Geovanni on 62, 70 and 84 minutes, before changing direction in mid-air to stop a Marlon King drive which deflected off Caleb Folan.

All that came after a strike from Taylor five minutes after the break. The midfielder fired home a left-foot shot from just inside the box after Ian Ashbee had only halfcleared Gavin McCann's corner.

MAN OF THE MATCH
JUSSI JAASKELAINEN 9
The keeper might be getting on a bit now, but there is no sign that his level of performance is about to dip. He pulled out blinding save to deny Hull an equaliser

MANAGERS
P BROWN 6
Got his team working hard, but they couldn't beat Bolton's defence

G MEGSON 7
Has come under fire of late, but Megson got his tactics spot on

REFEREE
ALAN WILEY 8
Did a solid, no-nonsense job

DID YOU KNOW?
They first met in 1908 but did not play between 1935 and 1960 and had not met since a 1998 League Cup tie which Bolton won 6-3 on aggregate.

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