Hull City 1 Bolton Wanderers 0: Tigers face anxious wait on Dawson

Dawson returned to the side following a hamstring problem, but left the fray with five minutes to go, clearly looking in discomfort as he left the field to be replaced by Harry Maguire.

Phelan said that the club’s medical staff will assess Dawson before deliver their prognosis.

He said: “We are not sure yet with Dawse. He came off with a knock on the knee; we think it is, although we are not quite sure yet.

“The medical staff always play safe for about 24 hours before they tell you the extent of any trouble if there is any.

“So we will wait until tomorrow (Sunday) or Monday.”

Hull were far from at their best against crisis-club Bolton, without an away win this term and who came into the game on the back of a threadbare return of just two points from a possible 27.

But Chuba Akpom’s fourth goal of the season and first since October 20 earned the Tigers three valuable points - thanks to his 31st-minute rebound after Ahmed Elmohamady’s volley was blocked on the line by David Wheater - on a day when Brighton, Derby and Middlesbrough were among several sides to drop points.

Phelan said: “Games are a bit of a slog sometimes in the Championship. But we have come through in and got the three points.

“The ideal is to have a great performance and the three points. But sometimes, when you are on the back of a couple of defeats, the whole point of the game is to get back into that (winning) groove again.

“In the first half in particular, the players got about the job pretty well and looked quite strong and got the goal.

“Then half time came and we didn’t really come back out with that fire in our bellies in the second half that we thought we might get.

“To Bolton’s credit, they pushed a little bit more onto us and made it more difficult without really creating a lot of chances, apart from hitting the post and one save at the end which could have been a bit tricky.

“We weren’t at our best and still created a few chances.”

Hull: McGregor, Odubajo, Dawson (Maguire 85), Davies, Robertson, Elmohamady, Meyler, Livermore, Clucas, Akpom (Diomande 78), Diame (Snodgrass 66). Substitutes unused: Jakupovic, Hayden, Huddlestone, Maloney.

Bolton: Amos; Gouano, Wheater, Holding; Vela (Dobbie 72), Danns, M Davies, Pratley (Spearing 45), Moxey; Feeney, Amoebi (Heskey 69). Substitutes unused: Rachubka, Derik, Twardzik, Walker.

Referee: M Bull (Essex).

Attendance: 15,739 (481 Bolton supporters).