CALEB-RITY

Hull City 2, Fulham 1

YOU have to look hard to find a celeb in Hull — so it was left to a journeyman striker called Caleb to finally put this city on the map.

The Tigers took their first steps in the promised land of the Premier League after a 104-year wait for top-flight football and looked like they had been here for ever.

It used to be said Hull is not the end of the world but, apparently, you can see it from there.

The KC Stadium felt like the centre of the universe for 90 minutes as a crowd of 24,525 turned the ground into a wall of sound and a sea of colour.

And the noise was never more deafening than when Caleb Folan, whose career has taken in the delights of Chesterfield and Wigan, swept in his 81st-minute winner.

Passion

Phil Brown’s side fed off the passion and fervour generated by their fans and recorded a priceless opening-day victory which, at worst, means they are almost 25 per cent of the way towards matching Derby’s record-low points total of 11 last season.

Brown’s biggest job for the time being appears to be managing the club’s expectations after they got more than they could have hoped for on day one.

The Tigers boss — whose side were in League Two five years ago — said: “The atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

“I had a wry smile before the game when it dawned on me we had arrived in this league — but that was wiped off my face when we fell behind so early.

“I really hope our supporters go home and enjoy their pints tonight.

“I don’t mind having to manage expectations as long as they realise we’ve got tough games coming up.

“But as far as the players go, they are not the sort of lads who would get carried away.

“Just ask captain Ian Ashbee. He has played in all four divisions for this club and saw many bad times before the good times came along. Will his head be in the clouds after today? Not a chance.”

Just a mile down the road from this six-year-old stadium lies a chilling reminder of where Hull were in the not-so-distant past.

The horribly derelict Boothferry Park is still the focus of debate in the local council chamber as demolition companies queue up to knock the old place down.

When the Tigers moved into the new stadium in 2002, the club sounded a bell to mark the end of their troubles.

That bell, they agreed, would not be heard again until they brought Premier League football to their impressive new arena.

Just after midday yesterday, it chimed again to herald Hull’s arrival in the big time. Then about five hours later, the team had ignited hopes they might even stay there for longer than five minutes.

Their day could not have started in a worse fashion as Jimmy Bullard’s flighted eighth-minute cross was nodded cleverly inside the far post by Seol Ki-Hyeon.

Fulham knocked the ball around like a team who had gained a spring in their step following their miraculous escape from relegation at the end of last season.

But instead of playing within themselves, Hull grew in stature and it was one of their new signings who pulled them level.

Geovanni, who looks an astute free capture from Manchester City, produced a stunning 25-yard effort which gave Mark Schwarzer no chance on 22 minutes.

Emotion

Tigers looked the likelier to win the game, but only after a terrible miss by Geovanni did they finally win the contest with Folan’s intervention from the bench.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson said: “Disappointment is the over-riding emotion.

“Any result other than defeat would have been satisfying here. If any team was going to win the second half it was Hull.

“Congratulations to them for marking their arrival in the Premier League so well.”

Last night Rangers announced they have agreed a fee for Fulham midfielder Steven Davis, 23.

The Northern Ireland international spent four months on loan at Ibrox last season.

Do Hull have the talent to stay in the top flight and can Fulham avoid another relegation fight?

Tell us at the Hull Fan Zone and Fulham Fan Zone