Crisis-club Portsmouth refused to be brought to their knees by off-field problems as they put in a titanic performance to tame the troubled Tigers.

Substitute Nwankwo Kanu put the seal on a dramatic game with a last-gasp goal to give Avram Grant’s embattled side all three points to deny Iain Dowie a dream debut in the Hull dugout. And Grant immediately hailed his side’s resilience in the face of almost certain relegation after the Premier League deducted nine points from his side for entering administration.   

“It's always good to win, especially after a difficult week, and it’s always good to be positive,” said Grant. “It’s going to take a
lot for us to stay in the league, but we’ve spoken a lot about character, spirit and mentality.

“Anything can happen in football, right up to the last moment, and we showed that today.”

The South Coast side were 2-1 down with three minutes remaining at Fratton Park.

But goals in quick succession from Jamie O’Hara and Nigerian veteran Kanu gave Grant’s side their fourth win of the campaign and left Hull to rue their failure to close out a match in which they twice led.

Dowie’s reign almost got off to a flier with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink heading against the woodwork.

Pompey went close with a Marc Wilson free-kick that curled just wide of Boaz Myhill’s post.

But it was Hull who claimed the lead when Craig Fagan unleashed a shot that beat David James with the help of a deflection off Caleb Folan.

Pompey equalised eight minutes before half-time.

Frederic Piquionne steered O’Hara’s cross into the six-yard box and Tommy Smith marked his return from injury by prodding the ball over the line from close range.

Folan’s second was controversial, with referee Phil Dowd touching the ball before Richard Garcia put his team-mate through.

O’Hara led the protests to the official but he made his point even more forcefully with his cultured left foot, curling a free-kick into the top corner with three minutes left.

A minute later, Nadir Belhadj scampered clear on the left and sent in an inviting cross that Kanu eagerly polished off to leave Hull dangling above the trapdoor to the Championship and Dowie devastated.

“It was bitterly disappointing, because with three minutes to go you think you’re going to see it over the line,” said the ex-Charlton and QPR boss. “It showed just how cruel this league is, but I think we showed spirit and determination.

“Portsmouth are playing with abandon and we just didn’t keep the ball well enough.”