Last updated 12:45, Wednesday, 29 October 2008

ON March 22, 1997, Matt Jansen scored a 90th minute winner to earn Carlisle United a 1-0 victory at Hull City.

It edged Carlisle a step closer to promotion from League Two and plunged another dagger into the hearts of Hull.

The Tigers were on a downward spiral and less than a year later were lying 92nd in the entire Football League and in danger of going out of existence amid serious financial problems. They were hard times for Hull and their dwindling fan base.

Anyone who had suggested back then that 10 years later they would have muscled in on Fantastic Four territory and be sitting third in the Premier League would have been led away by men in white coats.

Shock wins over Arsenal, Newcastle United, West Ham, and Tottenham have added up to an incredible start to life in the Premiership and accumulating 20 points from nine matches is Champions League form.

The Premiership was in danger of becoming boring thanks to the domination of the big four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool – but Hull have added a bit of excitement and brought a bit of romance back to football.

They’re an inspiration to any struggling team which dares to dream of better days.

Phil Brown couldn’t even get himself an interview for the Carlisle job after Paul Simpson went to Preston.

Now he’s manager of the month for September and, if Hull maintain their early season momentum, Brown can expect to add manager of the season to his collection.

The Tigers are the feel-good story of the season – let’s hope their bubble doesn’t burst.