Even the tightest of games can be settled in an instant. Unfortunately for Tom Huddlestone, it was his intervention that defined this one.
A difficult first-half became an end-to-end second period and Hull were unfortunate not to score after hitting the post twice in five minutes. But it was Huddlestone, who felled Michail Antonio in the area, who had the telling impact.
Antonio went down. Mark Noble stepped up and, as he so often does, scored from the spot. It was enough to win the game and take three points that will calm the unease around West Ham and heighten the fears at Hull.