Hull hit Fulham for six, Villa draw

Tom Huddlestone finally gets on the scoresheet in rout of Fulham

Tom Huddlestone of Hull city celebrates after scoring the team’s fourth goal by having his hair cut. Photograph:  Richard Sellers/Getty Images
Tom Huddlestone of Hull city celebrates after scoring the team’s fourth goal by having his hair cut. Photograph: Richard Sellers/Getty Images

Tom Huddlestone earned a long-awaited trip to the barber after inspiring Hull to a stunning 6-0 victory over an inept Fulham at the KC Stadium.

Huddlestone was the star performer as the Tigers forced home six unanswered goals in a second half that was shamefully mismatched, capping his afternoon’s work by finding the net for the first time in two and a half years.

The midfielder has grown an impressive afro since pledging not to cut it until ending his drought and when he drove home his side's fourth of the day he celebrated by allowing club physio Rob Price to sheer off a lock of hair.

And though Huddlestone stood out, there were heroes all over the park for the hosts with captain Robert Koren scoring twice, alongside efforts from Ahmed Elmohamady, George Boyd and Matty Fryatt.

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After a dull first half, the battering Hull inflicted on their hapless visitors took on a slightly surreal air and they might easily have reached double figures as the Cottagers groped feebly for a foothold in the game.

Hull are not a prolific side and to sustain such a comprehensive hammering, their worst of the Premier League era, must leave Fulham psychologically scarred in their relegation battle.

Aston Villa ended their losing run but there was little respite for under-fire manager Paul Lambert as they ground out a 1-1 draw with Swansea.

It was a meeting of two out-of-form teams, with Villa having lost their previous four matches while Swansea were without a win in five.

The hosts scored in the first half at Villa Park for the first time this Premier League season through Gabriel Agbonlahor in the seventh minute but Swansea piled on the pressure and got their reward when Roland Lamah equalised eight minutes before half-time.

The Welsh side dominated the second half but were unable to find a winner.