N'Doye's brace boosts Hull's hopes of avoiding relegation

Hull City boosted their chances of avoiding relegation from the Premier League as Dame N’Doye scored both goals in a hard-earned win at Crystal Palace. The manner of the win, however, will be regarded as highly contentious by those other clubs currently striving to avoid finishing in the bottom three.

N’Doye tapped home the first after Robbie Brady’s effort was deflected into his path.
The Senegal forward had enough chances to claim a hat-trick as Palace slipped to a second straight home defeat.

N’Doye’s added time second goal removed any doubt about the outcome of this game but controversy surrounded his 51st-minute opening goal while the decision of referee Mark Clattenburg to disallow a Yaya Sanogo header eight minutes from time will also be closely scrutinised.

Crystal Palace may have long since removed themselves from the struggle at the foot of the table but Alan Pardew’s side were convinced N’Doye’s first goal should have been ruled out because of a handball by Robbie Brady immediately before the wing-back squared for the striker. The home side were then further frustrated when Sanogo was adjudged to have pushed Paul McShane before heading past Steve Harper.

Palace’s best chance fell to Glenn Murray but N’Doye sealed the points in the closing stages on the counter. After Lee Chung-yong gave the ball away, 30-year-old N’Doye kept his composure to fire past Julian Speroni, who had kept Palace in the game with a series of fine saves.

Hull climb one place in the table to 16th, one point above the relegation zone.