Goals in each half from Dean Marney and Caleb Folan kept Hull's Coca-Cola Championship automatic promotion bid on track - and plunged Leicester into even deeper relegation trouble.

The biggest crowd of the season at the Walkers Stadium saw Marney convert Fraizer Campbell's right-wing cross to put Phil Brown's men ahead a minute into first-half injury-time.

Marney spurned the chance to double the lead when his penalty was saved by Foxes goalkeeper Paul Henderson, but substitute Folan made sure of the points late on - just three minutes after his introduction.

Hull's fifth victory from the last six matches moved them within two points of the automatic promotion places, while the home side remain perilously perched above the bottom three.

It was the visitors who had the first real chance when Windass' 20-yard free-kick flashed narrowly over the bar.

But the Foxes, surprise 4-1 winners at high-flying West Brom last week, countered immediately.

Barry Hayles raced clear down the left. But head down, the former Fulham forward failed to pick out a team-mate in the middle - and Hull full-back Andy Dawson cleared for a corner.

Eighteen years may separate the visitors' strike duo of Windass and Campbell, but the pair represent one of the division's most effective partnerships.

Ian Holloway's men, who kicked off just a point above the drop zone, suffered a lucky escape in the 14th minute when the veteran's intelligent pass found the England Under-21s call-up in the six-yard box only for him to fire past the near post.

Hendrie this week revealed his desire to earn a permanent deal with the Foxes, but the on-loan midfielder did his chances of earning a contract few favours when he skewed Hayles' lay-off over Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill's goal.

Opposite number Henderson twice came to the home side's rescue in a matter of minutes.

First he was down quickly to push away Neil Clement's 25-yard free-kick - while the second was even better, a reflex save from Windass' fiercely struck shot after his defence had failed to deal with Sam Ricketts' long throw.

Brilliant defending from Richard Stearman denied Ian Ashbee from close range, but the pressure eventually told as Marney fired the visitors ahead.

It could even have been two before half-time, but Henderson tipped Dawson's 20-yard free-kick around the post.

The Foxes came out fighting in the second period, and it took a last-ditch block from Ricketts to cut out Matty Fryatt's shot.

Holloway's side came even closer from the resulting corner, the otherwise quiet Steve Howard heading narrowly wide.

Hull's set-pieces were giving Henderson a busy afternoon, but the Leicester stopper was again equal to another well-struck drive from Clement.

The Australian briefly became the villain in the 65th minute when he brought down Campbell inside the area, earning a booking for the offence, but he swiftly redeemed himself by diving low to his right to deny Marney a second.

Campbell was replaced by Folan after 73 minutes, and the former Wigan forward wasted little time making an impact.

The Leicester defence was nowhere to be seen as Folan raced on to Clement's diagonal pass - and he took full advantage of Henderson's hesitancy to fire inside the goalkeeper's right post.

Teams:

Leicester Henderson, Kisnorbo, McAuley, N'Gotty (Etuhu 46),Stearman, Hendrie, Oakley, Clapham (Mattock 75),Fryatt (Campbell 75), Hayles, Howard.

Subs Not Used: Clemence, Wesolowski.

Booked: Kisnorbo, Henderson, Hendrie, Stearman.

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Clement, Dawson,Garcia (France 81), Ashbee (Walton 53), Marney, Pedersen,Windass, Campbell (Folan 73).

Subs Not Used: Tyler, Hughes.

Booked: Garcia, Myhill.

Goals: Marney 45, Folan 76.

Att: 30,374

Ref: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire).