This wasn't meant to happen. The script was written for Darlington, the last visitors to the shoddy surroundings of Boothferry Park, to come and go without even a murmur so Hull could bow out in style.

Not on your Nelly! A couple of months ago maybe, but under Mick Tait Quakers are proving to be a tough nut to crack.

The caretaker boss has yet to be offered the job permanently, but with just one defeat in nine you have to ask: Is there a more suitable man for the job?

"I'm fully enjoying what I'm doing and the players are enjoying themselves especially with the way things are going," said Tait.

"There's a real buzz about the place and that's the way we have to keep it.

"We knew they'd be well up for the game with it being the last game at Boothferry Park. At the end of the day we came to do a job which I thought we did very well."

Tait was first to admit his side rode their luck at times and the sending off of skipper Craig Liddle just two minutes into the second half did little to help their cause.

Liddle is expected to appeal against his dismissal after he accidentally tangled with Tigers striker Phil Jevons on the edge of the box.

"The sending off was wrong," said Tait. "I thought their lad was taking the ball away from goal.

"Lidds didn't mean to bring him down; he just clipped his heels as he's gone across him.

"A professional foul is meant to be something that is done deliberately and I thought the referee was wrong to send him off."

Simon Betts' strike - his first for the club on his 50th appearance - on the stroke of half-time proved to be Quakers' last effort on goal.

Liddle's red card forced Tait into a reshuffle and after starting the game with a five-man defence, Quakers reverted to four at the back with Richard Offiong dropping into midfield and Barry Conlon playing as a lone striker.

Stuart Whitehead was recalled to the starting line-up alongside Liddle and Matt Clarke with winger Neil Wainwright dropping to the bench.

"Every now and again I'll throw something in different just to give the opposition something to think about," revealed Tait.

"It would be easy to use the same formation, but teams watch us week in, week out and they know what you do.

"What makes it easier for me is that I know I have the players who are comfortable playing in different systems.

"They adapt to changes very well and it's good to have the option to do this."

Michael Ingham was an unused substitute in Sunderland's game with Liverpool yesterday, just 24 hours after playing his part in securing Quakers' third win on the trot.

The keeper was recalled to the Stadium of Light after an injury to loan signing Mart Poom, leaving Tait with just one available goalkeeper at Feethams.

Andy Collett is continuing to make good progress with his rib injury and Tait is hopeful of having him back for the clash at Carlisle a week on Saturday.

However, Tait faces the prospect of having Chris Porter as the only available goalkeeper for Saturday's game with Macclesfield.

"Andy should be fit for Boxing Day with a bit of luck," said Tait.

"If he needs more time we might have to look into bringing another goalkeeper in for the next few games.

"I have no worries about playing Chris - my only worry is not having another goalkeeper.''

For the opening 45 minutes Quakers were more than a match for their opponents. Midfielder Clark Keltie was presented with the game's first opportunity with a low drive which failed to trouble City keeper Paul Musselwhite. Tigers striker Jevons then saw his shot easily saved by Ingham in the Quakers' goal.

Stuart Elliott was brought on in place of the injured Dean Keates in the 28th minute and moments after his introduction he crossed for Gary Alexander, who flashed his shot across the face of goal.

At the other end Liddle was unlucky to see his header rebound off the bar from Richard Hodgson's cross. With little time left of the first half Hodgson set off on another bustling run down the left before crossing for Conlon, who failed to connect. However, Betts, who had continued his run down the right, ghosted in at the back post to fire home.

The 14,162 crowd, who had began the game in high spirits showed their dissatisfaction with the scoreline as the players were booed off at half-time.

City were denied what looked like a certain equaliser seconds into the second half when Ingham produced a stunning reflex save from Elliott's close-range effort.

Hull continued to press for an equaliser and Liddle's sending off only added to the pressure on Quakers who rarely managed to break out of their own half. Elliott was again involved in Hull's next move, but once again found Ingham in fine form with a comfortable save from 25 yards out.

However, Elliott did manage to beat Ingham midway through the second half only to see the bar come to the goalkeeper's aid.

And when Ingham miraculously saved on the line from Green the home fans were beginning to sense that it wasn't to be their day and even with the four minutes added time the home side could not find a way past a resolute Quakers defence.

Result: Hull City 0 Darlington 1.

Read more about the Quakers here.