Hull City 2-0 Cardiff City

Hernandez scored his 13th goal of the season for Hull

Hull City moved up to second in the Championship with a routine win over Cardiff City at the KC Stadium.

Abel Hernandez put the home side in the lead from the penalty spot after Harry Maguire was fouled by Lee Peltier.

Sam Clucas did well to convert Mohamed Diame's cross on the volley for Hull's second in the second half.

Both Hernandez and Clucas had further chances, but the win takes Hull past Derby into second, five points behind Middlesbrough.

The defeat will put more pressure on Cardiff manager Russell Slade, who was reportedly close to the sack after the weekend's FA Cup exit by League One strugglers Shrewsbury.

The result rarely looked in doubt, especially after Anthony Pilkington clipped over Cardiff's best chance midway through the first half.

Five minutes before half-time, Peltier wrestled man of the match Maguire to the ground from a corner, and Hernandez blasted the penalty beyond David Marshall's reach.

But manager Steve Bruce was not impressed with his player's reaction.

He said: "I think 10 people had come over from Uruguay. Abel jumped into the crowd, and picked a yellow card, which was a bit silly, to say the least."

Clucas added Hull's second, doing well to control a low volley from Diame's cross.

Marshall was kept busy, twice denying Clucas a chance to get his second, as Hull secured their 10th home win of the season.

Hull City manager Steve Bruce:

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Bruce on Hull City v Cardiff City

"It was comfortable. On another night, it could have been three or four.

"We've been fantastic at home, with one defeat in the last 18. We've got another home game at the weekend - can we put more pressure at the top of the table?

"We're not that clinical, though, which is disappointing. It's our Achilles heel. We can't keep creating five, six or seven opportunities and only take one or two."

Cardiff manager Russell Slade:

"We know what we've got to do. It's time to roll our sleeves up and get it done. Of course I am [confident of getting into the play-offs]. I believe in what I'm doing.

"I've done 750 games with a win ratio of around 39% so it doesn't mean I'm a mug. It means I'm capable and I still feel I'm capable of getting this team in the top six."

On reports he may get the sack: "I don't know where all that kind of information comes from or what sources that is. As far as I'm concerned, the dialogue with the chairman and chief executive is very good and we're all wanting the same thing."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Hull

• 1McGregor
• 2Odubajo
• 12Maguire
• 6Davies
• 26Robertson
• 27El Mohamady
• 14LivermoreSubstituted forHaydenat 75'minutes
• 7Meyler
• 11Clucas
• 17DiaméSubstituted forAlukoat 82'minutes
• 9HernándezBooked at 41minsSubstituted forHuddlestoneat 68'minutes

Substitutes

• 5Taylor
• 8Huddlestone
• 10Snodgrass
• 16Jakupovic
• 19Akpom
• 20Hayden
• 24Aluko

Cardiff

• 1Marshall
• 2Peltier
• 5Ecuele Manga
• 16Connolly
• 28Malone
• 11Noone
• 17Gunnarsson
• 8Ralls
• 13Pilkington
• 33WattSubstituted forMachedaat 82'minutes
• 10MasonSubstituted forAmeobiat 61'minutes

Substitutes

• 3da Silva
• 7Whittingham
• 14Macheda
• 19Revell
• 21Moore
• 22O'Keefe
• 38Ameobi

Referee:

Scott Duncan

Attendance:

15,549

Match Stats

Home TeamHullAway TeamCardiff

Possession

Home52%

Away48%

Shots

Home19

Away5

Shots on Target

Home8

Away0

Corners

Home6

Away1

Fouls

Home12

Away8

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Hull City 2, Cardiff City 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Hull City 2, Cardiff City 0.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt saved. David Meyler (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ahmed Elmohamady.

Posted at 90'+3'

Corner, Hull City. Conceded by Aron Gunnarsson.

Posted at 90'+2'

Attempt saved. Sam Clucas (Hull City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 90'+1'

Attempt missed. Federico Macheda (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Aron Gunnarsson.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Isaac Hayden (Hull City).

Posted at 88'

Joe Ralls (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 87'

Attempt saved. Tom Huddlestone (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 86'

Isaac Hayden (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City).

Posted at 85'

Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Andrew Robertson.

Substitution

Posted at 82'

Substitution, Hull City. Sone Aluko replaces Mohamed Diamé.

Substitution

Posted at 82'

Substitution, Cardiff City. Federico Macheda replaces Tony Watt.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Sam Clucas (Hull City).

Posted at 81'

Craig Noone (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 79'

Attempt saved. Tom Huddlestone (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 79'

Attempt blocked. Ahmed Elmohamady (Hull City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Moses Odubajo.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Isaac Hayden (Hull City).

Posted at 78'

Bruno Ecuele Manga (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 76'

Offside, Cardiff City. Craig Noone tries a through ball, but Sammy Ameobi is caught offside.

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Hull City. Isaac Hayden replaces Jake Livermore.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Curtis Davies (Hull City).

Posted at 73'

Tony Watt (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Sam Clucas (Hull City).

Posted at 71'

Lee Peltier (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 68'

Substitution, Hull City. Tom Huddlestone replaces Abel Hernández.

Posted at 67'

Attempt missed. David Meyler (Hull City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.

Posted at 67'

Attempt saved. Sam Clucas (Hull City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Abel Hernández.

Posted at 66'

Offside, Hull City. Jake Livermore tries a through ball, but Mohamed Diamé is caught offside.

Posted at 64'

Hand ball by Sammy Ameobi (Cardiff City).

Substitution

Posted at 61'

Substitution, Cardiff City. Sammy Ameobi replaces Joe Mason.

Posted at 60'

Foul by Curtis Davies (Hull City).

Posted at 60'

Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 59'

Attempt missed. Abel Hernández (Hull City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Mohamed Diamé.

Posted at 58'

David Meyler (Hull City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 58'

Foul by Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City).

Posted at 57'

Attempt blocked. Joe Ralls (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aron Gunnarsson with a headed pass.

Posted at 57'

Foul by Jake Livermore (Hull City).

Posted at 57'

Tony Watt (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

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