Goals from Billy Paynter and Craig Fagan earned Hull three valuable points against 10-man Cardiff at the KC Stadium.

The 21-year-old Paynter, who has joined Hull on loan from Port Vale before he signs permanently in January, volleyed home Fagan's neat cross from close range to put the home side 1-0 up after 70 minutes.

Cardiff, who have genuine play-off hopes this season, might feel slightly unfortunate, however, as the game hinged on captain Darren Purse's dismissal two minutes before Paynter scored his second goal in as many matches.

Purse was booked in either half for two fouls on the impressive Fagan which not only stopped Cardiff in full flow but also provided the home team with the momentum to press forward, when it had hitherto seemed unlikely, for the opening goal.

And once it came there was no way back for the Welsh outfit as Fagan, who was excellent all game, controlled Damien Delaney's reaching long ball to provide Peter Taylor's men with a first league win in seven attempts after 87 minutes.

Hull were comfortably the better team in the early exchanges and created the first meaningful attack on goal when Fagan controlled Nick Barmby's flick-on inside Cardiff's penalty area but dragged his left-foot shot well wide of the target.

Cardiff winger Jason Koumas, who put in a man-of-the-match display against Ipswich on Monday and also scored the winning goal, was ineffectual for most of the first period but still fashioned the best opportunity either side had when his stinging left-foot attempt from 18 yards required a low finger-tip save from Matt Duke after 33 minutes.

Duke, who was deputising for the suspended Boaz Myhill, denied Koumas again when he showed good awareness to tip over the Wales international's free-kick, awarded for Sam Collins' handball, 60 seconds after the restart.

Koumas had found his range and came even closer to opening the scoring when another fine free-kick, this time after Delaney brought Joe Ledley down in full flow on the edge of Hull's penalty box, arrowed inches wide of Duke's right-hand post.

Cardiff should have cashed in while they had the chance as the landscape of the afternoon was to alter dramatically once Purse was shown the red card for a second bookable offence on former Birmingham team-mate Fagan.

Two minutes after Purse was sent off, Hull made it 1-0 when Fagan's excellent cross was stabbed first time into the back of the net by Paynter.

Koumas again went close with another rasping set-piece but it was game over three minutes before the final whistle when Fagan confirmed a home win with a cool finish from eight yards.

Teams:

Hull Duke, Lynch, Cort, Collins, Delaney, Dawson, France, Welsh, Barmby (Elliott 66), Fagan, Paynter (Andrews 90).

Subs Not Used: Leite, Green, Price.

Goals: Paynter 70, Fagan 88.

Cardiff Alexander, Weston, Purse, Loovens, Barker (Lee 86), Parry (Cox 69), Whitley, Koumas, Ledley, Jerome, Ricketts.

Subs Not Used: Ardley, Boland, Margetson.

Sent Off: Purse (68).

Booked: Purse, Weston, Ricketts.

Att: 18,364

Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).