Alan Thompson rolled back the years to inspire troubled Leeds to a highly-significant Coca-Cola Championship victory at fellow relegation candidates Hull.

Father Time may be creeping up on the veteran midfielder but his contribution in this local derby proved the difference between the struggling Yorkshire clubs.

Centre-back Matt Heath cashed in on some slack defending from Thompson's set-piece to give Leeds a 20th-minute lead in an intense contest which was delayed 15 minutes due to crowd congestion.

Although Phil Brown's men could not match the visitors' early drive, they still managed to restore parity when Nicky Forster poked the ball home in first-half injury-time.

But four minutes after the break, Thompson confirmed he has lost none of his ability with an excellent free-kick from the edge of the home side's 18-yard box.

Leeds deserve fulsome praise for this display as Dennis Wise was forced to dig deep into his dwindling resources by making five changes from the side who started their last against West Brom.

Striker Tore Andre Flo was sidelined with a suspected broken foot, while captain Kevin Nicholls was also a significant absentee.

Hull handed a second home debut to Dean Windass after he rejoined his hometown club on loan from Bradford until the end of the season.

But Windass hardly saw the football during a predictably fractious start in which Leeds began brightly.

Thompson fashioned the first chance of the game when his 30-yard free-kick from the left required a good left-handed save from Hull goalkeeper Bo Myhill.

For all Leeds' problems - particularly away from home - there was a sense of urgency about their play that was rewarded with the opening goal.

Thompson's free-kick from deep inside Hull's half was well executed as it was badly defended and the ball somehow bounced into path of the unmarked Heath, who looped the ball over Myhill to give Leeds a deserved lead.

The visitors remained in relative control but a suspect defence which has conceded 13 goals in their last five games was again found wanting.

Dean Marney's free-kick skidded towards Michael Turner, whose unconvincing strike was initially well parried by Neil Sullivan.

The former Scotland international was given no back-up by his motionless defence, however, and the ball fell to Forster - who did the rest from close range.

Leeds had a case for feeling aggrieved given their first-half superiority but were back in business once Turner fouled Tresor Kandol on the edge of 18-yard box.

There are few better strikers of the football than Thompson at this level and the on-loan Celtic midfielder showed why Aston Villa once paid £4.5million for his services with a perfect left-footed curler which left Myhill with no chance.

If a Hull comeback was anticipated, their supporters were left feeling frustrated as their only significant chance of an equaliser arrived with eight minutes remaining when substitute Stuart Elliott volleyed wide from a tight angle.

This was as much down to Hull's impotent front-line as it was Leeds' new-found solidity, however, as Wise's men marched decisively onto three crucial points - although other results mean they remain bottom of the table.

Teams:

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Delaney, Dawson,France (Bridges 61), Ashbee, Marney, Forster,Parkin (Duffy 85), Windass (Elliott 79).

Subs Not Used: Duke, Coles.

Booked: Turner.

Goals: Forster 45.

Leeds Sullivan, Armando Sa (Einarsson 85), Heath, Rui Marques,Richardson, Thompson, Douglas, Howson, Lewis (Crainey 81),Healy (Blake 90), Kandol.

Subs Not Used: Carole, Tom Elliott.

Booked: Lewis, Heath, Kandol, Healy.

Goals: Heath 21, Thompson 50.

Att: 24,311

Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).