Hull City owners Assem and Ehab Allam said they hoped inspiration could be drawn from the club’s promotion back to the Premier League, sealed after a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City.

Inspiration is a good thing, without it great things cannot be achieved. For the city of Hull, the Tigers’ success means a boost for the local economy to the tune of £100M as well as notoriety for a place that suffers, unfairly, from a negative image.

But during an afternoon of high drama, the business end of the business end of the Championship season, the tussle for the second automatic promotion place to the Premier League went right down to the wire.

Hull were doing battle with Watford for the right to join champions, Cardiff, in the top flight of English football.

At the KC Stadium, the Bluebirds stood in Hull’s way, while at Vicarage Road, Watford were up against a Leeds United side with nothing but pride to play for.

What would unfold over the afternoon was a script worthy of Hollywood and with more twists and turns than the average rollercoaster.

At Watford, the plot twists started early with the Hornets having to replace goalkeeper Manuel Almunia with Jonathan Bond after the former Arsenal shot-stopper suffered a thigh injury. Bond himself would not last the first half, having only been on the pitch for 22 minutes when a collision between him and right-back Ikechi Anya left him with a broken nose and in need of oxygen and a stretcher.

Gianfranco Zola was forced to field his third goalkeeper of the day, replacing Bond with Jack Bonham, a 19-year-old who would go on to be at fault for both of Leeds’ goals in their 2-1 victory, only their fourth on the road in a lacklustre 2012/13 season.

Up in East Yorkshire, Hull City found themselves, for the briefest of moments, in the Championship playoff places when they went behind to a Frazier Campbell goal. But Steve Bruce’s men soon turned the tables on the champions with two strikes, from German forward Nick Proschwitz and defender Paul McShane.

Late penalty drama set up a nerve-wracking finale for Tigers players and fans, With Hull missing a spot kick and Cardiff equalising from 12 yards. It meant that Hull needed Yorkshire rivals Leeds United to provide unlikely assistance and the Whites dutifully obliged with Ross McCormack sweeping home in the 90th minute.

As Yorkshire’s only top flight team, Hull must seize the opportunity to become a staple fixture in the Premier League, but they must establish themselves in a sustainable fashion.

The boom and bust of their last flirtation with the top division is still fresh in the memories of many fans and of course with the Allam’s coffers, the Egyptians have invested a reported £60 million into the club, the temptation could be there to splash the cash.

Manager Steve Bruce will look to secure the services of key players, including Ahmed Elmohamady and Gedo on long term deals, and must also develop the club’s excellent crop of youngsters.

Hull paid the price the last time they graced the fields of the Premier League, signing average players on big wages, and would do well to avoid going down a similar path.

In the modern game, money can distort football as a competition and many clubs demoted from the top flight are soon faced with the harsh realities of the current financial climate.

Hull have everything in place to be a competitive top flight team, but it is the qualities that money can’t buy that are often a side’s strengths. They have these in abundance, including a loyal and fanatical fan base and owners who want to the best for both the club and the city.

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