Hull City 0-2 Southampton

Southampton extended their lead at the top of the Championship to five points with victory at Hull.

Jack Hobbs directed a Danny Fox cross into his own net to give Saints the lead before Jos Hooiveld made sure of the points with a close-range finish.

Nigel Adkins' side have now gone 11 games unbeaten in the league.

And, with second-placed Reading losing and third-placed West Ham United only drawing at home, it means Saints' grip on the division is strengthened.

However, the south coast club did not have it entirely their own way against a Hull side who came into the match on an 11-game unbeaten run of their own.

The Tigers created enough chances to get something from the game but ultimately paid the price for a poor start.

Manchester United loanee Josh King hit the crossbar for the home side with a well-struck half-volley in the 25th minute, Hobbs headed wide from a corner later in the first half and Robbie Brady somehow blazed over when it looked easier to score from a nicely-weighted King cross.

By this point, though, Hobbs had already put the ball into his own net to give the visitors the lead following a period of early pressure that saw Vito Mannone save a Rickie Lambert header and Adam Lallana miss a great chance after rounding the Hull keeper.

Southampton seized full control near the hour mark when Jose Fonte found himself in an unusually attacking position on the right flank to deliver a cross that defensive partner Hooiveld converted from close range.

The home side rallied in the final 10 minutes but visiting keeper Kelvin Davis producing a string of excellent saves to deny King, Tom Cairney and Cameron Stewart as Southampton did enough to hold out for the three points.

Hull City manager Nick Barmby: "We got beaten by a good side tonight. All credit to them and that is why they are top of the league.

"For the last 15 minutes of the first half, we were the better team and if we had scored then maybe the result would have been different.

"Maybe we would have gone on and the first half ended too soon, really. In the second half we tried to create chances, which I am really pleased with the team about because of their bravery. They kept going, kept trying to do the right things, got on the ball.

"I expect that of them and all credit to Southampton. We got beaten by a good team."

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins: "It was a very pleasing win away from home.

"We know Nick Barmby has done a really good job up here at Hull and it's always a challenging place to come to.

"They don't concede many goals and I thought we applied ourselves very well. I thought we started very, very well and then we put in a very good defensive performance."