David Livermore and Michael Turner gave Hull's Coca-Cola Championship survival hopes another huge boost while leaving Luton marooned in the bottom three and staring relegation in the face.

Livermore, only in the starting line-up after John Welsh broke a leg on Saturday, struck in the 21st minute for his fourth goal of the season and centre-half Turner hit a stunning centre-forward's volley as Hull grabbed a second successive win to move three points clear of the drop zone.

Drew Talbot pulled one back for Luton but the Hatters are looking increasingly like a side destined for the drop this season.

Boss Mike Newell sprang a selection surprise by throwing defender Leon Barnett up front, but despite the tall youngster's willing running the move never looked like paying off.

Barnett's positional awareness also left a little to be desired, when he collided with Markus Heikkinen as both went for Kevin Foley's cross in the opening moments.

Michael Keane was the first player to test Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill with a 20-yard volley which was comfortably saved, while at the other end Andy Dawson skewed a half-cleared corner high and wide.

Hull were dealt a blow midway through the half when Nicky Forster limped out of the action to be replaced by on-loan Bolton forward Ricardo Vaz Te.

But moments later they went ahead when Sam Ricketts swung in a superb right-wing cross which Livermore powerfully headed past Marlon Beresford in the Luton goal.

With the hosts reeling, the lively Vaz Te got in behind twice, almost teeing up Dean Windass and then lashing a shot over the top, while Turner headed Livermore's corner narrowly wide.

And Luton's night took a turn for the worse in the 33rd minute when Beresford landed awkwardly collecting a high ball and had to be stretchered off.

Newell threw striker Warren Feeney on at the start of the second half, sacrificing Richard Langley and dropping Barnett into midfield.

His side began brightly with Clarke Carlisle's header scrambled clear on the line, but as pass after pass went astray the home crowd grew more restless.

And the mood around Kenilworth Road worsened when Hull doubled their advantage in spectacular fashion just after the hour mark, Livermore crossing from the right and Turner smashing an unstoppable volley past Dean Brill from the edge of the area.

Luton hit back nine minutes later when substitute Dean Morgan's free-kick was headed in by Talbot.

Vaz Te passed up a gilt-edged chance to wrap the game up for Hull when he latched onto a defensive mix-up only to fire wide with just Brill to beat.

Brill denied the on-loan striker twice more but Luton were unable to punish the visitors when, at the other end, Myhill pulled off a fine save to tip Feeney's deflected shot over the top and secure the points for Hull.

Teams:

Luton Beresford (Brill 33), Foley, Barnett, Heikkinen, Davis,Bell, Keane, Langley (Feeney 46), Emanuel (Morgan 56),Carlisle, Talbot.

Subs Not Used: Coyne, Runstrom.

Booked: Carlisle, Barnett.

Goals: Talbot 70.

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Delaney, Dawson,Parlour (Coles 88), Ashbee, Livermore, Elliott,Windass (Barmby 80), Forster (Vaz Te 19).

Subs Not Used: Duke, Marney.

Booked: Dawson, Livermore, Vaz Te, Elliott.

Goals: Livermore 22, Turner 62.

Att: 7,777

Ref: R Olivier (W Midlands).