By Mandeep Sanghera

Manucho scored his first goal for Hull in the win at Fulham

An injury-time goal from Manucho stole Hull a valuable three points in their relegation battle as they beat Fulham.

Manucho sidefooted in at the far post from a Richard Garcia cross at the end of a game that Fulham dominated.

Andy Johnson had a header cleared off the line for Fulham, while Hull keeper Matt Duke saved from long range Paul Konchesky and Clint Dempsey strikes.

Duke played a big part in the win as he again denied Dempsey before Manucho's dramatic late heroics.

The win was Hull's first in the league since 6 December 2008 and saw them complete the double over Fulham.

Hull had beaten Fulham in their opening Premier League game of the season to kickstart an impressive opening third of the campaign.

But the highs of earlier on this season had been replaced with relegation concerns as they arrived at Craven Cottage hovering precariously above the drop zone.

The desperation of their predicament was mirrored in their tenacity and Geovanni could have given them an early lead.

His powerful 25-yard free-kick looked set to beat keeper Mark Schwarzer only to fade the wrong side of the post in the final few yards.

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In a fractious affair, Hull were hurrying and scurrying around Craven Cottage breaking up Fulham's play, while the home side had a calmer front as they tried to work an opening.

And Fulham almost did so when Konchesky's outswinging cross was met by a diving Johnson, whose header went a yard wide.

The Cottagers had a level of control over the game and Bobby Zamora set up Dempsey at the far post but his shot was blocked by Ian Ashbee with keeper Duke out of position.

Fulham were the team exerting the pressure and Zamora wanted a penalty when he felt he was hauled down by Kevin Kilbane.

A spot-kick would have been harsh against Hull, who escaped letting in a goal as Fulham carried on with their attack and Dempsey failed to squeeze in a shot at the far post with Zamora still complaining.

Dempsey and Konchesky forced Duke to tip over goalbound strikes before Mendy showed the value of a defender on the post at a corner by clearing a Johnson header off the line.

Zamora missed the ball as he attempted to sidefoot in a Simon Davies cross as Hull's goal lived a charmed life.

Fulham's profligacy eventually came back to haunt them as they suffered only a second home league defeat.

Manucho - on loan from Manchester United - got the winner in the second minute of stoppage time to move Hull up to 12th in the table.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora (Kamara 89).
Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Gera, Dacourt, Stoor, Kallio.

Booked: Hangeland, Etuhu, Davies.

Hull: Duke, Zayatte, Turner, Gardner, Kilbane, Mendy (Garcia 89), Ashbee, Ricketts, Geovanni (Barmby 90), Fagan, Cousin (Manucho 76).
Subs Not Used: Myhill, Hughes, France, Halmosi.

Booked: Geovanni.

Goals: Manucho 90.

Att: 23,051

Ref: Mike Jones (Cheshire).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Hull keeper Matt Duke on 7.31 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.

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