Has Hull City's Inspirational Run Finally Come to an Abrupt Halt?

Hull City, the clear underdogs of the Premier League season 2008-09. The team, just promoted having fought vigorously in the championship play-offs, desperate for their chance in the top-flight, now with a challenge of much greater difficulty and importance, surviving where the big boys play—the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Looking at the majority of predictions, these new boys wouldn't stand a chance, having a minimal time in comparison with the teams who finished in the automatic promotion slots—Stoke City and West Brom—to work on their squad and prepare for the step up.

Also, from finishing in a lower position than both the other promoted sides, they were considered a weaker side, let alone when compared to any of the top clubs in English football.

So from looking at Hulls' chances, any football fan with half a brain would have predicted that Hull's chances were very limited, with a team weaker than the regular Premier Division sides and the two teams going up with them.

Plus, little if no money to boost their squad and obtain some new signings with the quality to keep them up. A blunt way to put this—these lads, as it seemed, had no chance!

So, Hull City were the new boys in the top-flight, with a slightly more impressive squad despite their lack of funds—including the likes of Daniel Cousin from Rangers, George Boateng from Middlesbrough and Geovanni, the Brazilian with heaps of talent, from billionaires Manchester City.

They now looked ready to meet a simply immense challenge. A team who less than five years ago played League One football were competing with sides much larger and richer than them, had to try to avoid the drop.

The challenge looked impossible.

However, a win against Fulham and a draw against Blackburn were quite impressive initial results, leaving manager Phil Brown feeling more relaxed with the obvious words, "we can do this", running through his head.

The end of August though, reminded Hull City and their fans alike that this really was the toughest league in the world to play, as a 5-0 thrashing from Wigan came their way. Wigan, not even one of the top teams, easily defeating them, putting five goals past their 'keeper.

Surely now Phil Brown was thinking, "Okay, maybe we can't do this".

Luckily for him, things looked up as they once again managed a win and then a draw—the win against a disappointing Newcastle side and the draw against Everton, who were playing equally as bad.

Then, their luck went from sky high to the stars as they managed four wins on the trot.

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