Hull secured a league double over neighbours Scunthorpe thanks to first-half headers from Henrik Pedersen and Michael Turner.

Pedersen opened the scoring after 27 minutes, and eight minutes before the interval Turner added the second as Hull notched a crucial victory in their battle to gain promotion to the Premier League.

Hull were in control for long spells, and the result would have been far more convincing had it not been for an inspired performance from visiting goalkeeper Joe Murphy.

Hull manager Phil Brown handed Craig Fagan - signed on loan from Derby on Friday - a starting place up front alongside Fraizer Campbell. Fagan, who signed for Derby for around £1million from Hull in January 2007, has joined the KC Stadium club until the end of the season.

Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins fielded an unchanged starting XI following last Saturday's 2-1 win over Coventry.

But his side were never in the game after Pedersen had scored, and the Lincolnshire outfit have an increasingly desperate struggle on their hands to retain their Championship status.

In the opening two minutes, Hull's Andy Dawson came close to a goal against his former club - but Murphy clawed away his goalbound free-kick from 25 yards.

Dawson delivered the resulting corner, but Murphy made a sensational save to deny a point-blank header from Ian Ashbee.

Hull carved out another opportunity when Dean Marney's clever cross just evaded Campbell.

Then a low centre from Campbell himself seconds later rolled agonisingly across the face of goal.

Scunthorpe tried to respond. But Jim Goodwin's curling effort from 20 yards cleared the bar by a yard, and then Grant McCann sliced a left-footed volley wide from 20 yards.

Scunthorpe wasted an excellent chance when Jack Cork headed wide Ben May's cross from the right under pressure from Sam Ricketts just six yards out.

Hull snatched the lead when Scunthorpe failed to deal with a long throw from Ricketts.

Murphy again performed heroics to save Fagan's shot on the turn from close range, but Pedersen headed home the rebound from five yards.

Ten minutes later, the hosts doubled their advantage.

Dawson swung in a left-footed corner from the right, and Turner powered home an unstoppable header into the roof of the net from six yards.

Hull were dominating proceedings by this stage, Scunthorpe struggling to cope with the energy of the home midfield.

Scunthorpe displayed more purpose after the restart, and May produced a powerful run into Hull territory but could only fire a left-footed shot wide of the mark from 20 yards.

Hull continued to create, and waste, opportunities.

Both Pedersen and Fagan spooned close-range efforts over the target from inside the six-yard box, and Pedersen fired an angled drive just over the bar.

Marney then came desperately close to a third goal when he charged forward and belted a left-footed shot towards goal, only for Murphy to tip the strike on to the upright and away for a corner.

However, with Scunthorpe looking lifeless going forward, Hull were able to cruise through to the final whistle.

Teams:

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Dawson, Garcia (France 90), Ashbee, Marney, Pedersen (Walton 84),Campbell, Fagan.

Subs Not Used: Tyler, Clement, Bridges.

Goals: Pedersen 27, Turner 37.

Scunthorpe Murphy, Hobbs, Crosby, Iriekpen, Williams, Cork, Goodwin (Horsfield 82), McCann (Weston 56), Morris (Forte 70), May, Paterson.

Subs Not Used: Lillis, Butler.

Att: 20,906

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).