Hull took a step closer to securing a play-off berth by producing a stunning attacking display to tear apart Southampton.

The Tigers, still smarting from a 4-0 reversal at Southampton back in December, took the lead early on through Fraizer Campbell's 11th goal of the campaign.

Hull made certain of a third consecutive home win with goals from Henrik Pedersen and Michael Turner after 55 and 56 minutes respectively, before strikes from Dean Marney and substitute Bryan Hughes completed the rout.

Southampton created the first decent opening of the afternoon when David McGoldrick got on the end of Jason Euell's cross from the left but found Bo Myhill equal to his header.

Campbell wasted an excellent chance when he headed wide from six yards following a pinpoint cross from Dean Windass on the right.

However, Campbell made amends moments later when he sprinted onto a 60-yard through-ball from Marney and produced a cool left-footed finish to beat the oncoming Michael Poke.

Stern John, who hit a hat-trick in Southampton's win against Hull earlier in the season, spurned a good opportunity when he poked a shot straight at Myhill after being put clean through by Euell.

Windass blazed a volley over the crossbar after Poke had flapped at a cross from Pedersen, and then Turner headed the ball on to the roof of the net.

At the other end, John latched onto Euell's flick-on to sweep a left-footed volley into the bottom corner of the net, only to see his effort ruled out by the offside flag.

Hull piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the first half but Poke produced a fine save to keep out Ian Ashbee's header following a corner from Andy Dawson.

The home side continued to dominate after the interval, and the hosts put the game out of the visitors' reach with two goals in the space of as many minutes.

Southampton failed to clear the ball in their six-yard area, and when Richard Garcia saw a shot blocked, Pedersen was on hand to fire a right-footed shot on the turn into the roof of the net.

Seconds later Marney swung a free-kick into the box and Turner rose unchallenged to score with a thumping header from eight yards.

The home side were cruising and Garcia forced Poke into a flying save with a curling right-footed shot from 25 yards.

Midway through the second half Hull scored a fourth when Campbell laid the ball off for Marney to drill an unstoppable right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner of the goal from 30 yards.

Hull came desperately close to a fifth when substitute Michael Bridges hit the post from an acute angle after Marney's chip to the far post.

Myhill somehow clawed away Euell's stinging half-volley from 10 yards to deny the away side a consolation.

Then, in stoppage time, Southampton's miserable afternoon was completed when Bridges played in Hughes, who curled a right-footed shot into the top-right corner from 12 yards.

Teams:

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Clement, Dawson, Garcia (Bridges 78), Ashbee, Marney, Pedersen (France 70), Campbell, Windass (Hughes 59).

Subs Not Used: Tyler, Walton.

Goals: Campbell 7, Pedersen 55, Turner 57, Marney 68, Hughes 90.

Southampton Poke, Ostlund, Powell, Viafara, Thomas, Licka (Gillett 62), Euell, Safri, Vignal, McGoldrick (Pericard 46), John (Wright 70).

Subs Not Used: Pernecky, Saganowski.

Booked: Viafara.

Att: 16,829

Ref: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).