Manucho, on loan from Manchester United and a second-half substitute for a Hull City side looking hopelessly outclassed, scored in stoppage time last night with a goal against the run of play that left the home fans gasping in astonishment.

Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, called it “the ultimate football nightmare”. His side had seemed likely to be groaning at the injustice of a draw — and certainly not defeat — after dominating but failing to score through a mix of disappointing finishing and inspired goalkeeping.

Having failed to breach Hull’s defences, Fulham must now be wondering how on earth they will capitalise on the far fewer opportunities likely to be afforded to them on Saturday, when they face Manchester United in the FA Cup sixth round.

But from Phil Brown’s standpoint, Fulham cannot worry only about the Cup. The manager believes that ten or eleven teams are still in the relegation scrap and that, by definition, includes Fulham, who have only two points more than Brown’s side.

As the travelling support celebrated the most unlikely of victories, John Paintsil, the Fulham defender, harangued Mike Jones, the referee, for failing to act on abuse he claimed to have suffered in the match.

Hodgson said he was grateful that the referee did not caution Paintsil for his behaviour and that Jones told him he had not heard the abuse. He confirmed the club would support the Ghana international if he wanted the matter — understood not to be racially motivated — investigated.

Hull survived all manner of Fulham attempts on goal, Matt Duke was equal to two swerving strikes from Clint Dempsey and tipped a shot by Andrew Johnson on the turn over the bar. When Duke was beaten, Bernard Mendy was available to head off his line from Paul Konchesky.

There were indignant shouts for a penalty when Kevin Kilbane wrapped his arms around the neck of Bobby Zamora, but the former West Ham striker collapsed too easily. Although Hull’s goal came against the overall run of play, Fulham did become jittery in the final 15 minutes and it was two Hull substitutes who combined to exploit their nerves when Richard Garcia’s cross confused Brede Hangeland and found Manucho. “Tonight wasn’t a good performance, we didn’t deserve to win,” Brown said. “We’ve got to build on this.”

Fulham, meanwhile, have to rediscover an ability to convert pressure into goals — otherwise United will toy with them, much as Fulham, to no avail, did with Hull.

Fulham (4-4-2): M Schwarzer — J Paintsil, A Hughes, B Hangeland, P Konchesky — S Davies, D Etuhu, D Murphy, C Dempsey — A Johnson, R Zamora (sub: D Kamara 89min). Substitutes not used: P Zuberbühler, E Nevland, Z Gera, O Dacourt, F Stoor, T Kallio. Booked: Hangeland, Etuhu, Davies.

Hull City (4-4-2) : M Duke — S Ricketts, A Gardner, M Turner, K Kilbane — B Mendy (R Garcia 89min), K Zayatte, I Ashbee, Geovanni (N Barmby 90 ) — D Cousin (sub: A Manucho 76) , C Fagan. Substitutes not used: B Myhill, B Hughes, R France, P Halmosi.

Booked: Geovanni

Referee: M Jones.