Bottom-of-the-table Leicester City ended a 13-game winless streak in the Premier League after earning a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Hull City.
Riyad Mahrez's first-half strike proved enough to give the Foxes their first win since beating Manchester United 5-3 back in September.
Hull threw the kitchen sink at Leicester in the closing stages, with Paul Konchesky and Stephen Quinn both sent off late on for very different reasons.
Below, relive the drama of our live text commentary at the KC Stadium.
Seasons greetings to one and all! I'm Shane and I'll be guiding you through Hull City's Premier League six-pointer with Leicester City this afternoon. It's 2015 in a few days and it could be crucially important that Leicester go into the new year with a new lease of life.
Bizarrely, Nigel Pearson's side have not won a game since that 5-3 win over Manchester United back in September. Consequently, the Foxes find themselves bottom of the Premier League, and they could be a massive eight points from 19th-placed Burnley if results go against them today!
History does not favour the bottom-placed team heading into a new year, and while they will go into 2015 at the foot of the table regardless what happens, you get the impression that victory would see them approach the new year with a reinvigorated sense of purpose.
And who's to say they can't win today? Hull beat fellow strugglers Sunderland 3-1 on Boxing Day to move one point clear of the relegation zone, but prior to that they hadn't won since October 4 - almost three months! They've got big problems of their own but they could quell those relegation worries slightly by winning today.
Steve Bruce's side are vying for back-to-back wins for the first time this season, and they could move four points clear of the danger zone depending on how Burnley get on away to Manchester City - so, eh probably badly - and Crystal Palace's visit to Queens Park Rangers.
Bruce is quite a likeable figure so, as a neutral, I'd like to see him steer Hull clear of danger - and I've backed them today so I've got my Tigers shirt on! Not really, though. Anyways, let's get cracking on a bit of team news, shall we? Why not. I'll have this very soon.
HULL XI: McGregor; Rosenior, Bruce, Davies, Brady; Elmohamady, Livermore, Meyler, Quinn, Ramirez; Aluko
LEICESTER XI: Hamer; Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, Konchesky; Cambiasso, James, Mahrez, Schlupp; Nugent, Ulloa
HULL SUBS: Harper, Figueora, Hernandez, Maguire, Jelavic, Sagbo, Ince
LEICESTER SUBS: Smith, De Laet, Drinkwater, Moore, Knockaert, Wood, Hammond
Right, we'll start with the hosts and I can tell you that Brucie makes just the one change from their 3-1 win over Sunderland the other day, with James Chester dropping out for Jake Livermore.
Sone Aluko spearheads the attack once, with Gaston Ramirez, Stephen Quinn, David Meyler and Livermore back in midfield. You'll find Ahmed Elmohamady and Robbie Brady in the wing back positions on either flank, with Liam Rosenior, Curtis Davies and Alex Bruce in defence ahead of Allan McGregor.
On to the Foxes now and I can tell you that Nigel Pearson makes two changes from their slender 2-1 defeat to Spurs on Boxing Day, with Matty James and Esteban Cambiasso coming in for Andy King and Danny Drinkwater.
Leonardo Ulloa and David Nugent continue up top, with Cambiasso, Jeffrey Schlupp, James and Riyad Mahrez a little further back in midfield. Then you'll find Danny Simpson, Marcin Wasilewski, Wes Morgan and Paul Konchesky lining up from right to left in defence, with Ben Hamer continuing in nets in the absence of Kasper Schmeichel.
DID YOU KNOW? Let's look at one or two stats to whet the appetite and did you know that Leicester, despite all the signs pointing to another defeat, have only lost one of their last six against Hull City? Yep. They've won three three, drawn two, and they'll hope that the omens favour them this afternoon.
PREDICTION: I really have thrown a few bob on Hull this afternoon so hopefully they do the business. I've just gone for a straight win, but let's crank it up a notch and look for a scoreline too. Okay. Wishful thinking, but I'll go for a narrow 2-1, with Sone Aluko scoring one of those for the Tigers. 15 minutes until kickoff ladies and gents.
It's a gorgeous day in Hull and let's hope the game proves equally as breathtaking as the weather.
@HullCity #MyMatchdayView pic.twitter.com/nbcSd0UPcl
— Mark Tomlinson (@tomomarktom) December 28, 2014
REFEREE WATCH: Big Phil Dowd will take charge of this one. He'll have enjoyed his turkey and ham on Christmas day so let's hope he runs it off this afternoon in an end-to-end encounter.
Incidentally, this is the first-ever top-flight meeting between the sides so let's hope it's a good'un. They've both endured some pretty miserable form this season so let's see if something gives today. It has to, really. - particularly for Leicester, who haven't won since September as we said.
Right, both sets of players make their way on to the field and we're minutes away now. Eye of the Tiger playing around the stadium. It's because their nickname is the Tigers see. Clever.
KICKOFF: Aaaaaaaaaaaaand we're off at the KC Stadium. Very big game this, and one that Leicester just cannot afford to lose.
Leicester bossing the possession stakes thus far in these early stages but yet to create anything. Steve Bruce says this one was bigger than the FA Cup final - and we know how the well the Tigers started on that day at Wembley.
SHOT! Six minutes in and Hull boast the game's first shot as Aluko looks to bend an effort around Ben Hamer but the stand-in keeper holds it comfortably.
It's a big day for Leonardo Ulloa, who hasn't done much up front since that 5-3 win over United. He's only scored once since so the Foxes will be looking to him for a bit of inspiration.
Hull want a yelow card for Paul Konchesky after the left-back lunged in on Elmohamady, which the referee is having none of, but they do have a free kick and it's Gaston Ramirez, whose cross didn't beat the first defender. Shocking.
Yep, Hull definitely the better team in the last few minutes they look a little short up front unfortunately, with Aluko slightly anonymous so far.
Really good spell from Hull this as Gaston Ramirez now evades a few challenges before swinging a left-footed shot at Hamer, who manages to hold well. This won't be a goal fest so the first goal could be decisive.
Leicester slowly but surely trying to battle back into this after Hull dominated the first 15 minutes or so, but they're also suffering from major quality up front unfortunately. Ulloa and Nugent have seen very little of the ball.
Robbie Brady has to stay calm here. The Irishman looked like he wanted to headbutt Riyad Mahrez there a moment ago but Mahrez didn't meet his head with Brady's and the situation defused itself thankfully.
Good defending by Curtis Davies. Mahrez whips in a corner, and Cambiasso beats Meyler to it to flick the ball on but Davies diverts the danger elsewhere. He did well there.
Both sets of players have four in midfield so it is very scrappy and congested in there at the moment. I regret not putting my money on a 0-0 now to be honest because it may very well be a bore draw.
CLOSE! This isn't far away at all, and It's Meyler, who shrugs off a challenge by Cambiasso before smashing left-footed into the side netting from an angle. One section of Hull fans thought it was in! Good effort.
BOOKING: Danny Simpson goes into the book for a late challenge on Alex Bruce, which has left the Hull defender down injured at the minute. He's receiving treatment but it looks like he might be alright.
GOAL!!!! HULL 0-1 LEICESTER (Mahrez)
The Foxes take a huge step toward their first win since September as Riyad Mahrez runs at Hull's back four, before cutting inside Stephen Quinn and curling a fine effort past McGregor from the edge of the box. There was shades about Arjen Robben about that one. Great finish.
Hull need a response but they're not getting one as of yet. It's still all Leicester and they might fancy their chances of grabbing a second before the break.
CHANCE! Really good chance for Hull to level up, but Ramirez did well to evade Morgan and latch on to Alex Bruce's through ball, but his first touch to bring it around Hamer was far too heavy and he ran out of pitch.
Hull certainly in the driving seat but they lack that bit of class to restore parity at the moment. They're going to finish the half strongly but, as it stands, Leicester are 45 minutes away from a massive win.
Leicester defending pretty well, but they don't need to be at their best so far because Hull have been very, very ordinary in the final third. Looks like it's going to be 1-0 at the break...
CHANCE! Oh what a brilliant chance to snatch a half-time draw, as Stephen Quinn swings a beautiful cross into the box and Elmohamady looks like he's going to just tap home, but the ball comes off his ankle I think and goes well over the bar.
HALF TIME: HULL 0-1 LEICESTER
There we have it then. A moment of quality from Riyad Mahrez is all that seperates the teams here in what has proven a pretty dreadful first half overall.
SUB: Sorry about that I was experiencing some laptop issues, but we're back now thank god and I can tell you that Nikicia Jelavic will replace Gaston Ramirez for this second half.
RESTART: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we are back underway as Jelavic looks to inspire Hull to a second-half turnaround. He might, too. He's as good a goalscorer as you'll find in the bottom half of the table so let's see what he comes up with here.
Good opening few minutes from Hull's perspective but very little to write home about so far by way of chances. Leicester need to weather whatever comes their way in the first 20 minutes or so and take it from there.
SUB: Leicester make their first change now as the ineffective Ulloa is called ashore for New Zealand forward Chris Wood. He can't do any worse than Ulloa to be fair.
Brilliant tackle from Curtis Davies as Wood is involved immediately. Quick thinking from Cambiasso as the Argentine plays in Wood from a free kick, but Davies is across well to avert the danger before the youngster can get his shot off.
Konchesky is extremely lucky to avoid a card here as he goes in quite high on Jelavic but Phil Dowd just gives him a stern warning. He's so lucky.
CLOSE! This is so very close to an equaliser, and it would've been extremely unlucky on Hull as Elmohamady's cross is deflected by Wes Morgan and bounces narrowly past the post. Would've been a kick in the baubles.
DOUBLE SUB: Tom Ince replaces David Meyler, while Aluko makes way for Abel Hernandez. Hull really going for it now, but they've used all three of their subs and we've still got half-an-hour to play! It's ballsy.
You wonder why Abel Hernandez didn't start because the jet-heeled striker can, and will cause problems. He's been involved once or twice already and he could have a big role in snatching something for Hull today.
It's backs to the wall stuff for Leicester now and the visitors can't really get out of their own half. It's all Hull, but still big questions over their capacity to get anything from this.
Danny Drinkwater is drinking water! The Leicester man stands on the side of the pitch waiting to replace who we think is Cambiasso, who has been very good.
DOUBLE SUB: Double sub from Leicester now as Drinkwater and Richie De Laet replace Cambiasso and goalscorer Riyhad Mahrez respectively. Nigel Pearson badly wants a win here!
Right, so Hull have a little over 20 minutes - so do I because I backed them! - so let's see what happens. Personally, I can see a draw.
Abel Hernandez wants a penalty after flicking the ball up against the hand of Wes Morgan, who had both arms down by his side. It's never a penalty, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
OFF THE POST: Oh Hull are unlucky here, as Jake Livermore's outside-of-the-boot shot cannons off the post, before Jelavic heads over in the same passage of play. Bruce's side are certainly turning the screw.
Leicester are 10 minutes away from a massive win now. I still think Hull will score to ruin the party, however...they've got too much talent in the final third now not to get one or two good chances.
OFF THE POST AGAIN! Lord only knows how it's still 1-0. Abel Hernandez, who forced Hamer into an excellent save just second before, heads against the post from the resulting corner, before Davies fires the rebound over the bar.
RED CARD: Konchesky is sent off for a second yellow card - and it's about time. He could've gone about an hour ago.
CHANCE! Hernandez side foots over the bar from close range following a corner. He could've had about four goals this afternoon, despite only coming on in the last 30 minutes. Crazy.
FIVE MINUTES ADDED ON:
This is the biggest three minutes in Leicester's season, folks. They quite simply have to hang on.
Hull have a free kick just outside the box now, and Brady might fancy his chances. I've seen him take them for Ireland and he has a sweet strike on him.
What an anti-climax that was! It bounces straight off the wall and Leicester get it away.
RED CARD: Stephen Quinn is sent off for intentionally handling the ball to prevent Chris Wood from racing through on goal. Stupid, but it had to be done. That should be that.
FULL TIME: HULL 0-1 LEICESTER CITY
They've done it! Leicester pick up their first win since September - and boy oh boy did they work hard for it!
Anywho, that's all we've got time for today ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for joining Sports Mole's live commentary and stay tuned for analysis, ratings and reaction. Happy new year!
Written by
Shane Callaghan
Shane Callaghan
