Defeat for West Ham, meanwhile, continues their disappointing run of form that has now seen them lose four league games in a row. Slaven Bilic's side are winless in six in the Premier League - a run stretching back to 4 February - and have dropped to 14th place, six points above the drop zone. If Hull are to maintain their Premier League status come May, it is days like this that they will point to as key moments. Their home form has been superb since the appointment of Silva in January, with 13 points won from a possible 15 - a run that has taken in wins against Bournemouth, Liverpool, Swansea and now West Ham. Silva is now personally unbeaten in 39 home league matches including jobs before he came to England, and the Portuguese appreciates the importance of the statistic. "These are really good numbers," said Silva. "They give confidence to me and to the players."
This latest win came despite an abject opening period by the hosts, who failed to put any pressure on an out-of-sorts West Ham missing the likes of Winston Reid and Michail Antonio. Carroll's opening goal was a gift from Hull's Curtis Davies, who badly misjudged the flight of Aaron Cresswell's lofted pass to allow the big striker an easy finish from eight yards. But a half-time change from a three-man defence to a flat back four improved the Tigers' performance. Kamil Grosicki, introduced from the bench for Davies, was involved in the equaliser, receiving the ball after great work by Lazar Markovic and laying into the path of Robertson who advanced to fire home his first Premier League goal. Alfred N'Diaye hit the post for the home team a short while later but West Ham appeared to have done enough to take away a point only for Ranocchia to rise unmarked to head the winner from Grosicki's corner five minutes from full-time.
For much of this game West Ham looked far and away the better side, with Manuel Lanzini impressive in midfield and Carroll bossing the forward line. With Mark Noble dropped to the bench, Carroll was captain for the day and responded with a typically bullish and influential performance, winning headers in his own area and giving Hull's back three a generally torrid time in the first period. He took his goal very well, bringing the ball down on his chest and firing unerringly beyond Eldin Jakupovic. He ended the half with a clattering challenge on Ranocchia, dazing the Italian and underlining his menace. Yet Hull's switch to a four-man defence completely altered the contest. More cover on the wings strangled the supply line to Carroll, who only had one chance of note in the second half with a header straight at Jakupovic.
Hull's equaliser was as well worked as it was well deserved, after which there only looked like being one winner, particularly when N'Diaye thumped against the post and Grosicki fired just wide on the rebound. Ranocchia duly delivered the killer punch late on, but in truth it was a self-inflicted wound for the Hammers, who allowed the Italian too much space at the near post as the visitors' set-piece weaknesses were exposed again.
