Dowie vows to fight until end

New Tigers boss left deflated by crushing late defeat

Last updated: 20th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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New Hull City boss Iain Dowie has vowed to keep the faith after seeing his new side suffer a cruel defeat at Portsmouth.

The Tigers were 2-1 up with two minutes of normal time remaining but went down 3-2 courtesy of Pompey's late, late show.

The result leaves City three points from safety and without an away win in 30 matches but Dowie believes his new charges can still escape the drop after others in and around the drop zone also slipped up.

Burnley were denied a precious point by a last minute goal at Wigan while Wolves were also pegged back at Aston Villa.

"It's a very tight situation," Dowie told Sky Sports after the game. "You see results today go one way and the other - who would have thought that game would go that way with two minutes to go."

In spite of the result, Dowie was still pleased with aspects of the Tigers' effort, particularly two-goal striker Caleb Folan.

The Republic of Ireland international was frozen out by former manager Phil Brown but came in from the cold to put City within minutes of a crucial three points.

And with strikers Amir Zaki and Jozy Altidore picking up injuries in the build-up to the game, Dowie had a hunch Folan could do a job.

Responded

"I just had a feeling. I watched him training and he looked sharp and I threw him in at the expense of a few others and I just had a feeling for him and when Jozy went down yesterday I just put him up there and he's responded well and I'm delighted for him."

Dowie admitted he was disappointed how his side capitulated when they were so close to returning to East Yorkshire with three vital points. They gave away a string of free-kicks in dangerous positions and substitute Richard Garcia gifted the hosts possession in the lead up to the wining goal.

"The manner of the last goal is disappointing for everyone. I don't remember Boaz Myhill having to make a save and it was just a case of seeing it out but it did not quite happen," he said.

"We had a fasntastic following and I thought the team showed plenty of spirit but it just shows how cruel this league is."

However he was full of praise for Pompey midfielder Jamie O'Hara whose free-kick led to the home side's amazing comeback.

"It was a fantastic bit of quality from Jamie O'Hara. We kept giving away central free-kicks but our wall did a fantastic job most of the time but on that occasion they shifted the ball and he curled a great equaliser."

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