Jason Price struck a late winner as Hull extended their unbeaten run to four
matches and increased Sheffield Wednesday's relegation fears with victory at the
KC Stadium.
The contest between the two promoted sides looked set to end all-square but
substitute Price volleyed home with just three minutes remaining.
While Peter Taylor's side are steadily acclimatising to life into the
Coca-Cola Championship, Wednesday are winless in six matches and look destined
for a tough battle against the drop.
The Tigers began the brighter, passing astutely and tackling with purpose.
After just 58 seconds a sweeping move culminated in striker Billy Paynter
whipping in a vicious cross which Graham Coughlan was forced to clear.
But three minutes later the visitors came close when midfielder Glenn Whelan
struck a fierce 35-yard effort just wide.
Hull began to dominate, though, and Coughlan was again required to make a
vital block from Craig Fagan's stinging 25-yard drive after nine minutes.
Fagan and Paynter have forged an effective partnership in recent games and
they again dovetailed effectively against the Owls.
Fagan's pace threatened to take him clear of Wednesday's backline after 14
minutes, and Owls defender Richard Wood cynically hauled him down.
Former England international Nick Barmby swung in the resulting free-kick and
defender Sam Collins arrived to plant a firm header narrowly wide.
The Tigers faced the Owls buoyed by the knowledge they finished 14 points
above Paul Sturrock's men last term.
The hosts showed the greater quality but after failing to make their early
dominance pay, the Owls steadily gained a foothold on the game.
In the 20th minute, Wednesday midfielder Burton O'Brien produced a dangerous
cross which David Graham fired goalwards.
The strike looked destined for the top corner until Leon Cort arrived to
divert the ball away for a corner.
Whelan delivered a wicked corner which almost caught out Boaz Myhill at his
near post, but the Hull goalkeeper was alert to the danger with a clutch of
Wednesday players lurking.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Owls striker Lee Peacock crossed for Steve
Adams to head wide when well placed inside the hosts' penalty area.
But eight minutes before the interval Hull came close when Cort headed
goalwards only to see his effort well saved by Wednesday keeper Nicky Weaver.
The Owls came out strongly after the break but wasted a golden opportunity to
open the scoring in the 49th minute.
The impressive Daryl Murphy sent over a teasing cross but Peacock headed
wastefully wide with the goal at his mercy.
Owls midfielder Murphy came close to breaking the deadlock on the hour mark,
sending a left-foot shot wide from 12 yards when he should have at least hit the
target.
And with 20 minutes remaining Wednesday again came close when Frank Simek
delivered a cross and Steve Adams forced Myhill into action.
But a period of sustained pressure from Hull reaped rich dividends for the
hosts.
Northern Ireland striker Stuart Elliott had a goal disallowed for an apparent
offside flag before Price arrived in the 87th minute to fire home fellow
substitute Stuart Green's left-wing cross for the winning goal.
Teams:
Hull Myhill, Lynch (Price 59), Cort, Collins, Dawson, France,
Welsh, Delaney, Barmby (Green 78), Paynter (Elliott 63), Fagan.
Subs Not Used: Duke, Andrews.
Goals: Price 87.
Sheff Wed Weaver, Simek, Coughlan, Wood, Gilbert, O'Brien,
Whelan (Brunt 45), Adams, Murphy, Peacock (Eagles 69),
Graham (Agbonlahor 74).
Subs Not Used: Lee, Hills.
Booked: Gilbert.
Att: 21,329
Ref: M Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
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