Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Hull City 1

The Premier League game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Hull City at Molineux on Saturday Aug 29, 2009.

A second-half goal by right-back Richard Stearman, only his second in Wolverhampton Wanderers colours, earned the Championship winners their first home point since returning to the Premier League after Geovanni's early header had raised Hull City's hopes of a second consecutive victory.

Wolves will feel the more disappointed with the draw, having seen Andy Keogh's effort drift tantalisingly off-target when he was sent clear and Hull's Michael Turner deny Kevin Doyle a winner on his full debut with a desperate goal-line clearance, but Phil Brown's side began as if they were confident of building on last week's overdue defeat of Bolton.

Hull had seized the initiative with a well crafted goal after three minutes. Stephen Hunt, fed by Andy Dawson the left flank, first teased Greg Halford with his footwork, then left him trailing with a burst of pace. His deftly chipped cross found Geovanni, the diminutive Brazilian, slipping away from George Elokobi before meeting with a header from almost on the goal line.

A year ago next month Hunt was involved, as a Reading player, in the "phantom goal" mistakenly awarded to his team at Watford by referee Stuart Attwell. The 26-year-old official – the youngest ever to referee a Premier League fixture - was again in charge, but the only ghostly element on this occasion was the way Hunt went past his opponent.

Wolves, who started with £6.5 million club-record signing Doyle with Keogh in tandem for the first time, frequently looked to the wing play of Matt Jarvis to unlock Hull. One surge from his own half led to a cross which found Keogh turning swiftly only to shoot straight at Boaz Myhill.

When the equaliser arrived, less than a minute into the second half, the build-up could scarcely have been more basic. Michael Mancienne's free-kick from the halfway line was headed on by the captain, Jody Craddock, for a third member of the back four, Stearman, to catch Hull napping with a first-time touch from six yards out.

The home side grew in confidence, but Keogh's finishing failed him and Doyle discovered why Brown rates Turner at £12 million, whereas Hull's early fluidity gave way to sporadic counter-attacking.