Hull boosted their chances of avoiding relegation with a 2-0 win over promotion candidates Preston.

With both teams in desperate need of points for contrasting reasons, goals from Nicky Forster and David Livermore sentenced Paul Simpson's men to a damaging loss in a one-sided game at the KC Stadium.

That inconsistent Preston folded so tamely will be of concern to their supporters, especially given their impressive victory against Southampton on Monday night.

And matters could be even worse after star striker David Nugent hobbled off in the first half.

Hull are still in big trouble but put in a determined performance which not only removed the sour residue left over from their 5-2 defeat at home to Ipswich on Tuesday, but gave their fans fresh belief of avoiding the drop.

And if Dean Windass can replicate the form shown here until the end of the season, manager Phil Brown will have pulled off a real coup in luring the veteran striker back to his hometown club.

Things did not go Hull's way early on, however, as midfielder John Welsh suffered a nasty-looking injury when challenging for the ball with Preston striker Neil Mellor.

Welsh was taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Livermore.

Preston could not capitalise on that enforced substitution as Hull always looked the more dangerous going forward.

Ray Parlour's corner from the left was hit with real venom and rebounded to the unmarked Forster, who buried the easiest of headers from the right of the penalty area.

The visitors were then handicapped by an injury to the much-coveted Nugent, who was replaced by Patrick Agyemang after 32 minutes.

Just before that setback, Chris Sedgwick carved out Preston's best chance of the game when his stinging half-volley from distance arrowed just over the crossbar.

Without the guile of Nugent, the Lancashire club lacked any real zest in the final third of the field and failed to test Hull goalkeeper Bo Myhill.

Even before Livermore's goal, the match could have been over as a contest after Windass dug out an unorthodox 12-yard effort which struck the base of the left post.

Five minutes later, Andy Lonergan then pulled off a fine save to deny Forster, who was left one-on-one with the Preston goalkeeper after good work from Parlour.

Hull scored the second goal their efforts merited when a deep Sam Ricketts cross was knocked back across goal by Windass towards Livermore, whose brave diving header put the gloss on a comprehensive home win.

Teams

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Delaney, Dawson,Welsh (Livermore 5), Ashbee, Parlour, Forster (Vaz Te 86),Windass (Barmby 88), Elliott.

Subs Not Used: Duke, Doyle.

Goals: Forster 29, Livermore 70.

Preston Lonergan, Alexander, St. Ledger, Chilvers, Davidson,Pugh, Sedgwick, Pergl (Songo'o 60), Ricketts,Nugent (Agyemang 31), Mellor.

Subs Not Used: Henderson, Dichio, Soley.

Booked: Pugh, Ricketts.

Att: 17,118

Ref: M Pike (Cumbria).