Hull City 2-0 Leeds United
Last updated on .From the section Football
Hull moved within two points of Championship leaders Cardiff with a comfortable lunchtime victory over Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.
The Tigers dominated from start to finish against a lacklustre Leeds side who barely managed an effort on goal.
But they had to wait until Corry Evans drilled a low angled shot across Paddy Kenny in the second half to break the visitors' resistance.
David Meyler's header from Robbie Brady's corner sealed the win.
Cardiff have the chance to reopen their five-point advantage over Steve Bruce's side when they host Millwall later on Saturday.
Hull's win saw them complete their first double over Leeds since the 1987-88 season - having clinched their first win at Elland Road since the same season in September's 3-2 victory - and the outcome never looked in doubt following a ferocious start from the home team.
Tigers skipper Robert Koren wasted an early opportunity when he shot wide after pouncing on a mistake by Whites defender Alan Tate, and referee Geoff Eltringham waved away two Hull penalty claims after Meyler and the impressive Sone Aluko both tangled with Leeds' Jason Pearce.
Ahmed Elmohamady then sent a threatening ball across the face of the goal only for Brady to slash wide as the pressure mounted on the uncertain Leeds defence.
The visitors were limited to long-range shots from Ross McCormack and Michael Brown but Hull were not rewarded for their first-half dominance and the second half started in the same vein as Aluko fired wide and Meyler was denied by a smart save from Kenny low to his right.
Moments later, the Hull pair almost combined again when a sliding Meyler - set to be recalled by injury-hit parent club Sunderland before being allowed to stay with the Tigers - almost connected with Aluko's cross.
Hull finally took a deserved lead when former Manchester United midfielder Evans collected Koren's pass before calmly beating Kenny.
And Meyler sealed victory after easily escaping his marker to head in powerfully and leave Leeds ninth, two points off the play-off places.
Hull boss Steve Bruce: "It's been a huge month for us: Six games, won five, drawn one.
"I couldn't have wished for a better return. We looked like we wouldn't score in the first half but we went about our business properly and were great to watch. Some of our players, Sone Aluko, you'd pay to watch."
Leeds boss Neil Warnock: "I feel the frustration that the fans feel with our squad, but we're all glad it's January coming up. The new owners are supporting me and I want to bring players in.
"Whatever we do, we're not going to cope with Hull and Cardiff, but looking at the other teams, we don't have much to fear. We need to get our own house in order."
