Hull striker Dean Windass scored his 11th goal of the season to give Phil Brown's side a deserved win at Plymouth.

The industry and composure of Windass illuminated an otherwise dour Coca-Cola Championship clash as two teams harbouring promotion ambitions cancelled each other for the most part at Home Park.

Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick had produced a string of decent saves to deny striker Fraizer Campbell on several occasions during a tepid opening 45 minutes before Windass struck on the stroke of half-time .

The veteran striker prodded home a Sam Ricketts cross from close range as the Tigers secured a victory which lifts Brown's men to within a point of the play-off pack.

Hull have now been beaten only once in their last eight Championship matches while Argyle remain winless in the league in 2008.

Manager Paul Sturrock handed a home debut to midfielder Chris Clark while Ian Ashbee returned to the Hull side after missing the 1-0 win over Coventry in midweek through illness.

The Tigers made the long trek south hoping to avenge a 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Home Park last month and bidding to avoid a fifth straight loss at the hands of Argyle.

Campbell saw a rasping 12-yard goal-bound drive blocked by defender Mathias Doumbe after 10 minutes of a low-key opening

Ten minutes later home goalkeeper McCormick had to be alert to pluck a teasing Bryan Hughes cross from the air as a clutch of Hull players prepared to pounce and moments later kept out Campbell's weak effort.

The visitors continued to press without really looking likely to break the deadlock and it was no surprise to see on-loan Manchester United youngster Campbell again trying his luck from 12 yards but failing to test McCormick.

Windass blazed wide from 18 yards before McCormick produced a fantastic save to deny Campbell from a similar range.

Luke Summerfield dragged a 20-yard effort wide on a rare Argyle attack six minutes before the interval.

Windass then struck a richly-deserved opened for Hull on the stroke of half-time.

The 38-year-old found himself in the right place at the right time to bundle home Ricketts' right-wing cross from six yards.

Peter Halmosi shot wide from 18 yards after the restart as the home side looked for an immediate way back into the contest while McCormick produced smart saves to deny Windass and Simon Walton.

Sturrock then introduced Jermaine Easter and Nadjim Abdou after 56 minutes in a bid to muster an equaliser.

Windass continued to look menacing as he rose well to head Henrik Pedersen's right-wing free-kick just over from 12 yards on the hour mark.

Richard Garcia and Peter Halmosi both tested McCormick and Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill respectively from 25 yards and Brown brought on Caleb Folan for Windass late on.

Garcia weakly drilled wide with seven minutes remaining and there was still time remaining for Myhill to superbly tip substitute Nadjim Abdou's 18-yard shot around the post.

Teams:

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Timar, Doumbe, Sawyer, Clark (Jutkiewicz 79), Summerfield (Abdou 56), Nalis, Halmosi, MacLean, Fallon (Easter 56).

Subs Not Used: Hodges, Mackie.

Booked: Timar.

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Pedersen, Garcia (France 89), Walton, Ashbee, Hughes, Windass (Folan 78), Campbell (Barmby 84).

Subs Not Used: Tyler, Okocha.

Booked: Walton.

Goals: Windass 45.

Att: 11,011

Ref: Paul Armstrong (Berkshire).