Norwich striker Darren Huckerby produced a virtuoso display to plunge Hull back into the thick of the Coca-Cola Championship relegation scrap.

Huckerby scored one and created another as Phil Brown's men slipped to a defeat which could return to haunt the Tigers boss.

Hull were awful and did not force a meaningful save from Canaries goalkeeper Tony Warner until the hour mark.

By that time Norwich were 2-0 up and in total control on a cabbage patch of pitch made worse by Hull FC's recent engage Super League encounters.

The enigmatic Huckerby nodded home a controversial 39th-minute opener and crossed for Dickson Etuhu to convert the killer second 10 minutes after the break.

Hull struck the woodwork three times and claimed a late consolation through Andy Dawson's delightful free-kick two minutes from time.

But in truth they created few, if any, other genuine goalscoring opportunities and Huckerby's pace left them frequently exposed.

Brown's men had won three of their previous four games to move five points clear of danger.

After slumping to their 11th home defeat of the season, they are now facing the grim prospect of being sucked right back into it.

Not that Norwich - and Huckerby in particular - were fazed in the slightest.

After Etuhu saw his low 20-yard strike blocked in the 14th minute, team-mate Simon Lappin then threatened moments later.

He collected possession from a short corner and drew a fine save from Boaz Myhill at his near post before Hull came desperately close in the 25th minute.

Skipper Ian Ashbee seized on a loose ball 25 yards from goal and struck a fierce first-time shot which flew past Tony Warner and cannoned off his right-hand post and rebounded to safety.

Yet, with the lightning quick Huckerby forming a dangerous attacking triumvirate alongside Dion Dublin and Lee Croft, the visitors never allowed Hull to settle.

They should have led shortly after the half hour mark when Huckerby reached the left byline and crossed for Croft who blazed over the crossbar.

But Huckerby was not be denied six minutes before the break when Youssef Safri sent over a corner from the left and he stole in at the near post to head home.

Myhill clearly felt he was impeded and his furious protests earned him a booking, but it could have been worse for Hull moments later.

Huckerby's pace again took him beyond the home defence and his clipped shot beat Myhill, only for Damien Delaney to make a vital goal-line clearance.

Hull boss Brown breathed a huge sigh of relief but his game was up 10 minutes after the break when Huckerby - who swapped to the right flank in the second half - picked out Etuhu.

The giant midfielder had the simplest of tasks to plant a header past Myhill to seal the points.

Substitute Ricardo Vaz Te gave Hull some spark and on the hour he forced a near-post save from Warner.

Fellow substitute Nick Barmby then headed Lee Peltier's free-kick onto the post before Windass did likewise in the closing stages as Hull's luck again deserted them.

Huckerby saw a 'goal' disallowed and although Dawson's late curling free-kick gave Hull fresh hope, Norwich survived a late onslaught to claim the points.

Teams:

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Delaney, Dawson, Parlour,Ashbee, Peltier (Marney 70), Forster (Vaz Te 60), Windass,Elliott (Barmby 52).

Subs Not Used: Duke, Coles.

Booked: Myhill.

Goals: Dawson 88.

Norwich Warner, Lappin, Shackell, Doherty, Drury,Croft (Fotheringham 71), Safri, Hughes, Huckerby (Martin 90),Etuhu, Dublin.

Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Renton, Eagle.

Booked: Hughes, Warner.

Goals: Huckerby 39, Etuhu 55.

Att: 19,053

Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).