Hull captain Ian Ashbee headed a late winner to keep his side in the hunt for automatic promotion and dent Crystal Palace's play-off hopes.

Ashbee powered home a magnificent header five minutes from time to settle an exhilarating contest at the KC Stadium.

Fraizer Campbell put Hull in front with his 15th goal of the campaign, but Scott Sinclair equalised in the closing stages of the first half.

However, after dominating possession and territory for most of the second half, Ashbee won the contest in the dying minutes.

The visitors nearly snatched the lead with less than two minutes gone when Hull's Michael Turner and Palace's Mark Hudson challenged for Ben Watson's vicious corner and the ball cannoned against the post.

It was soon Hull's turn to be denied by the woodwork, when Dean Windass' superb free-kick from 25 yards cannoned off the crossbar.

Palace wasted a good opening when Watson fired a volley over the crossbar from 10 yards, and Hull made the away side pay with the opening goal seconds later.

Campbell spun sharply 20 yards from goal and drilled a low right-footed shot into the bottom-left corner to beat Julian Speroni.

The hosts could have doubled their advantage moments later, but Windass was adjudged to be offside when he latched onto Bryan Hughes' clever chip and slotted the ball home.

Hull suffered an injury blow when Windass was crudely fouled by Shaun Derry, who was booked for the tackle.

Windass hobbled off to be replaced by Craig Fagan, and Palace started to cause plenty of problems.

Sinclair's cross just evaded Clinton Morrison in the middle, and then Tom Soares' shot deflected off Turner and flew just wide of the mark.

The home side lost another of their starting XI when Henrik Pedersen was replaced by Nathan Doyle after picking up a knock.

The visitors then drew level after a defensive mix-up.

Brown initially won the ball from Morrison in his own six-yard box, but then gave possession straight to Sinclair, who calmly stroked the ball into the bottom-left corner from a tight angle five yards out.

Palace carved out the first opening of the second half, but Hudson failed to connect with Watson's outswinging free-kick.

The visitors struggled to break out of their own half after that near miss though, and Doyle blazed a shot over the crossbar after an excellent run.

Turner then rose to connect with a Dean Marney free-kick from the right, but he directed his effort wide of the mark from six yards.

Campbell then broke clear for Hull, but Jose Fonte recovered to make a goal-saving tackle.

Campbell again went close minutes later, but Speroni produced a reflex save to keep out a low drive from 12 yards.

However, with time running out, Ashbee scored with a tremendous header from 10 yards following a Marney corner, and Hull hung on to keep their automatic promotion dream alive.

Teams:

Hull Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Pedersen (Doyle 32), Folan, Marney, Ashbee, Hughes (Barmby 68), Campbell, Windass (Fagan 24).

Subs Not Used: Duke, Walton.

Goals: Campbell 18, Ashbee 85.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Hill, Hudson, Fonte, Derry (Scannell 87), Soares, Watson, Sinclair (Ifill 70), Morrison, Moses.

Subs Not Used: Ashton, Hills, Bostock.

Booked: Derry.

Goals: Sinclair 38.

Att: 24,350

Ref: R Booth (Sutton Ashfield).