Hull were left looking into the abyss of relegation from the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.
Bullard penalty miss adds to tears in East Yorkshire
Hull City were left looking into the abyss of relegation from the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at the KC Stadium put them on the brink of the drop.
Darren Bent's first-half tap-in, coupled with West Ham's victory over Wigan, plunged Iain Dowie's side six points from safety with two games to play and only a freak swing in goal difference would now save the Tigers.
Sunderland took the lead through Bent in the seventh minute, but that was only the start of the drama as Hull's Jimmy Bullard hit a post with a penalty before half-time.
The first half still had space for additional talking points as both Jozy Altidore and, controversially, Alan Hutton were sent off by referee Lee Probert during injury-time following a scuffle on the touchline.
To list the opening exchanges would imply a thrilling, eventful contest, but it was far from that in East Yorkshire and a dire second half followed an identical pattern, with Sunderland boss Steve Bruce's dismissal to the stands the only moment to remember.
Hull, who are reportedly facing crippling financial implications, never looked like finding an equaliser and, in contrast to last season's final day survival, appeared a side who already knew they will be heading back to the Championship.
Dowie said before the match he would make changes and he was as good as his word, bringing creativity into the side in the form of Geovanni and Nick Barmby and reverting to 4-4-2 with Altidore and Caleb Folan up front.
But Hull again made a woeful start and they could have been a goal down inside three minutes when Steed Malbranque found space inside the area. He teed up Jordan Henderson, however, the youngster made a mess of his side-footed effort from 10 yards.
No complaints
Dowie must have been hoping the return of Anthony Gardner would shore up a leaky defence, but moments later Malbranque was in again. This time he took the shot himself from a similar distance and it was well over the bar.
Hull could have had no complaints, though, when the visitors did take the lead in the seventh minute. A cross from right-back Hutton was headed across goal by Kenwyne Jones for Bent to tap in his 25th goal of the season from a tight angle.
The hosts at last strung a move together in the 19th minute, but Barmby's cross was deflected behind and Folan could not get the ball out of his feet when the corner fell to him at the far post.
Missed chances have hurt Hull all season and they should have been level in the 26th minute when Bullard's corner landed on the head of Gardner six yards out, but his effort hit the chest of Gordon and was cleared away.
It was a much more even game now and another searching Bullard cross picked out Barmby for a header over the bar, then in the 36th minute the hosts had another great opening when Altidore played Folan through.
He chose to shoot early as Hutton came in with a challenge and Gordon did well to tip the shot behind for a corner.
Folan was then involved in the incident that should have seen the Tigers draw level in the 41st minute. The striker looked slightly fortunate to get away with what appeared a tug on Hutton but the ball fell to Geovanni and he was sent tumbling in the area by Hull old boy Michael Turner.
Bullard is usually a confident penalty taker, but he did not hit the ball cleanly and it rebounded to safety off the base of Gordon's right-
