Provided by 7DAYS.ae
Bristol City - 0
Hull - 1
Windass 38
MINNOWS Hull were celebrating a bumper pay day last night after a superb Dean Windass volley took them into the Premier League next season. The striker's sumptuous volley separated the two sides in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium. And the goal is priceless, considering the riches on offer in the English Premier League.
Last season's winning finalists Derby may have produced the worst ever showing by a team in the top flight. But the Hull players and fans should be allowed to celebrate before facing up to the reality of trying to cut it with the big boys. Hull coach Phil Brown was confident his side would put on a great fight to stay in the the Premier League. The club has never played in the top division before in their history. And considering they were almost bankrupt in recent memory, they had real reason to celebrate. "It's marvellous," said Brown. "I feel for the Bristol City lads - but it is very fitting that Dean Windass got the winning goal.
"The players have tried hard all season and thoroughly deserve it. It is fantastic feeling to do it here in front of all of these supporters. Now comes the challenge but there are success stories of Portsmouth and Bolton and if the chairman backs me in the Premier League who knows how far we can go?"
Both teams were evenly matched, although Hull had a little more composure on the day thanks to veterans Windass and Barmby, a former England player. Neither side really had many chances, and Hull's decisive strike was good enough to win any contest. A superb run from Frazier Campbell caused havoc in the Bristol goalmouth, and the on-loan Manchester United man chipped the ball to the unmarked Windass at the edge of the area.
The 39-year-old needed no second invitation as he thumped a fantastic volley past Adriano Basso in the Bristol goal. Hull keeper Boaz Myhill did his bit in the second half with saves from Lee Trundle and Michael McIndoe but it was Windass who was the hero for the Yorkshire club. His goal means Hull join West Brom and Stoke in the top flight next season.
And with the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal set to visit the KC Stadium next season, the striker was understandably delighted. Windass said: "It feels unbelievable. I don't think there is anyone left in Hull looking at how many supporters we've got here. "To score the winning goal is fantastic. We've worked hard from the start of the season and we've got our rewards for that. I've never been to Wembley before so get the winner is a great feeling."
Rangers made up for the disappointment of losing out to Celtic in the league title race on the final day of the season by beating Queen of the South 3-2 in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park yesterday.
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