• Hull’s Abel Hernandez was seen punching Manchester United’s Phil Jones
  • Ref Lee Probert missed the incident and Hernandez was allowed to play on
  • Hull needed to win to be in with a chance of Premier League survival 
  • Newcastle’s 2-0 win and the Tigers’ 0-0 draw condemned Steve Bruce’s to relegation

Jack Briden for MailOnline

Hull City’s Abel Hernandez was fortunate not to have been sent for an early bath after punching Manchester United defender Phil Jones on Sunday. 

With Hull needing to beat United and hope that fellow relegation battlers Newcastle either drew or lost to West Ham to avoid the drop, Steve Bruce knew his side would need to fight right to the end.

A man to the good after Marouane Fellaini’s dismissal for a reckless challenge on Paul McShane, Hull were desperately looking for the goal to potentially prevent them from Premier League relegation, and Bruce introduced Uruguayan Hernandez in the hope of a positive response.

The fist of Abel Hernandez (second left) can clearly be seen making contact with Phil Jones' stomach 

The fist of Abel Hernandez (second left) can clearly be seen making contact with Phil Jones’ stomach 

From a reverse angle Hernandez is seen swinging his right arm into the midriff of the Manchester United man

From a reverse angle Hernandez is seen swinging his right arm into the midriff of the Manchester United man

Jones is hit with such force he buckles over and falls to the ground following Hernandez's punch

Jones is hit with such force he buckles over and falls to the ground following Hernandez’s punch

Instead as the Tigers drew nearer to their Championship fate, the 24-year-old must have taken his manager’s plea for fighting spirit a bit too literally.  

Selfishly and unsportingly putting his team’s Premier League survival chances in jeopardy, the former Palermo forward aimed a sneaky low jab into Jones’ abdomen.  

Despite referee Lee Probert missing it all, it was in incident that will undoubtedly be looked at retrospectively, and Hernandez could face a ban come the start of next season’s Championship campaign after Newcastle’s 2-0 win against West Ham condemned them to relegation.

 


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