Hull City slipped deeper into the Premier League relegation mire following a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City at the KC Stadium.
The Tigers welcomed their fellow strugglers to East Yorkshire having nervously won only two top-flight games since the end of last October, and goals from Ricardo Fuller and Liam Lawrence ensured that statistic did not change and made Stoke safe.
Phil Brown's side, who sat three points off the relegation zone ahead of kick-off, knew that another defeat would give bottom-three occupants Newcastle and Middlesbrough significant motivation ahead of Monday's Tyne-Tees derby.
And that fear factor was evident from the start in a match billed as one of the biggest in Hull's history as the home side attempted to force the issue against the Potters, who had previously recorded only seven points on their travels.
But Brown's men lacked a cutting edge and on 41 minutes they were made to pay as striker Fuller was offered time and space to turn and convert a scrappy Lawrence corner at the near post.
Hull dominated territorially after the break, however, the absence of a 'Plan B' was again evident, and was duly punished on 73 minutes as Lawrence rifled a spectacular second to seal the win, despite an injury-time Andy Dawson consolation from a free-kick .
Both sides showed plenty of early determination and chances came at either end in the opening 10 minutes.
Matthew Etherington created the first opportunity for Stoke but drilled a low shot wide and a menacing cross from Lawrence was scrambled clear by Sam Ricketts.
Highlight:
Hull city v Stoke City
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