Altidore and Ghilas provide home comfort

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Louise Thomas

Editor

Phil Brown unearthed a brace of new heroes at the KC Stadium, as Hull City secured their first victory of the season courtesy of Kamel Ghilas's second-half strike to increase the gloom for Gary Megson and leave Bolton Wanderers without a point.

Ghilas, a £1.7m summer recruit from Celta Vigo, might not be a household name in the Premier League but he was the talk of Humberside last night after celebrating his full debut in perfect fashion with the only goal of a poor game just after the hour mark as Hull secured their first home win since before Christmas.

The Algerian international will take the plaudits, but hot on his heels was teenager Jozy Altidore, the USA international who sprinkled some magic of his own on this dour encounter by replacing Caleb Folan and setting up Ghilas with his first touch.

There has been little to smile about in Hull this season but Brown might just have found himself a double act to raise more smiles at the club than pundits expect. If it hadn't been for the pair's intervention in the second half this game would have remained goalless and in danger of being remembered as one of the worst of the season. Bolton were slightly the better, which isn't saying much as passes went astray, long balls were punted aimlessly downfield and shots failed to find the target.

Either manager would have gratefully taken a scrappy victory, and it was Brown who claimed what could prove to be a significant three points when Altidore's pass evaded Zat Knight to find Ghilas in the 61st minute and he buried his shot beyond Jussi Jaaskelainen. It was quite an impact from Altidore, who completed his 12-month loan move from Villarreal this week following visa problems and arrived at Hull via America, where he was also detained due to a swine flu threat in the US team camp following their game in Mexico this month.

Brown said: "It's a massive three points because of the first two defeats. There was pressure on us but we responded. I think the fans will take to Jozy. He's only 19, a bubbly character. He has just got off a plane from America, landed in London and was helicoptered up to Hull. He's only had one training session so to set up the goal with his first touch is fantastic."

Megson had to contend with chants for him to be sacked. He said: "We did not score and that put us in danger. We lost our shape and this result shows the importance of the first goal."