OUTSPOKEN boss Jan Molby admitted he was lost for words after Kidderminster Harriers gifted 10-man Hull City a simple injury-time winner in a 2-1 defeat at Boothferry Park.

Harriers were hanging onto an excellent away point after Tony Bird's penalty grabbed them an equaliser in a dramatic second-half finale.

But Molby, and unfortunately his defence, watched in disbelief as substitute Rodney Rowe flicked on Mike Edwards' long throw with ease and Gary Alexander pounced from two yards.

It was Alexander's second goal for big-spending promotion chasers Hull after he was given a similar amount of time to head home a centre from strike partner Lawrie Dudfield on 52 minutes.

But the game burst into life for the visitors nine minutes from time when Stewart Hadley, on as sub for front-man Drewe Broughton, was brought down by centre-back Justin Whittle as he prepared to shoot.

Whittle was sent off for the professional foul and Bird confidently tucked home his second penalty in as many games to make it four goals for the season.

It was just reward for Harriers' best player Bird who had to revert to right-back only 22 minutes into the game after promising teenager Lee Ayres suffered a potential broken foot.

The former Wales U-21 international came closest to scoring for Kidderminster previously with one free-kick hitting the bar on 26 minutes and another tipped over by keeper Matt Glennon 17 minutes from the end.

However, Harriers went on to waste their first away point of the season and Molby fumed: "I would like to think that once we got the equaliser and they were down to 10 men that we might have gone on to win the game.

"To concede a goal in the manner we did is absolutely incredible. Words fail me. The first goal was exactly the same. They only had one attacker in the box and he's headed in from 15 yards with no challenge.

"I thought we had worked hard against a big, strong side. We had our chances but were unlucky with a few. They did have the majority of the play.

"Losing Ayres early on didn't do our plans any favours but when Bird went to right-back he was outstanding.

"He's got a lot of confidence at the moment and the keeper's made a world-class save from his free-kick in the second half.

"I feel sorry for the fans who have come a long way. I'm sure they would have taken a point and I was quite happy with that but we threw it away."

Harriers keeper Stuart Brock earlier kept up his good form with a fine diving save from Jamaican international Theo Whitmore's close-range header on 35 minutes.

The visitors, with Danny Williams making his debut in midfield, had often defended stubbornly with a 4-5-1 formation but crucial lapses in concentration cost them dearly.

Hull: Glennon; Edwards, Whittle, Mohan, Goodison; Whitmore (Petty 83), Greaves (Lee 88), Johnsson, Beresford; Dudfield (Rowe 90), Alexander. Subs not used: Musselwhite, Matthews.

Harriers: Brock 7; Smith 7, Ayres 6 (Foster 22, 6), Hinton 6, Stamps 6; BIRD 8, Blake 7, Williams 6, Bennett 7, Shilton 7; Broughton 7 (Hadley 69, 6). Subs not used: Murphy, Ducros, Davies.

ATTENDANCE: 8,835.

YELLOW CARDS: Hull 2 (Greaves, Alexander), Harriers 3 (Broughton, Williams, Bird)

RED CARDS: Hull 1 (Whittle)

SHOTS ON: 5-3

SHOTS OFF: 6-5

CORNERS: 5-1

SHUTTLE STAR MAN TONY BIRD: Has made an impressive start to the season and hit the top of the Division Three goal-scoring charts with his fourth strike. Filled in ably at right-back early on when Lee Ayres was injured and was twice close with free-kicks.