HULL CITY 2 (Evans 52, Meyler 55), LEEDS UNITED 0

Hull: Jakupovic, Chester, Hobbs, Evans, Koren (Proschwitz 77), Faye, Aluko (Simpson 90), Elmohamady (Rosenior 83), Quinn, Brady, Meyler. Subs: Amos, McShane, Cairney, Olofinjana.

United: Kenny, Byram, Tate, Lees, Pearce, White, Green, Brown, Norris (Austin 68), McCormack, Somma (Varney 46). Subs: Ashdown, Drury, Thomas, Becchio, Hall.

Referee:  G Eltringham

Booked: White, McCormack, Brown, Byram (Leeds)

Att: 23,453

United manager Neil Warnock made five changes to the side which lost at Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, and altered his system to a three-man defence with Sam Byram and Aidy White deployed as wing-backs. Davide Somma was also included for his first start in 19 months.

It was certainly a positive start by Leeds, who moved the ball quickly during the opening exchanges and found space. White's pace posed a threat to Hull, McCormack's movement was also good, and United looked to get the hosts on the back foot.

United had a couple of half chances, one was a shot deflected wide, while Paddy Kenny had to react well to cut out a Robbie Brady cross on the 20-minute mark as the hosts looked to attack.

That sparked a spell of pressure from the Tigers and with United failing to clear their lines properly, Hull were able to push forward, culminating in a far post header into the sidenetting from Abdoulaye Faye.

When United responded, Michael Brown tried his luck from distance and a White cross was just too deep for Somma to bring under control after arriving at the far post.

There was a short stoppage shortly after the half-hour while Ahmed Elmohamady received treatment following a challenge by White, The tackle was enough to earn the United man his fifth booking of the season and an automatic one game ban.

Hull responded to the stoppage by carving out the best chance so far and Brady should have done better when he was faced with a low near post cross. Another Elmohamady cross also fizzed across the face of goal.

The visitors were on top in the period leading up to half-time and McCormack, who had been forced into coming deeper to look for the ball, went into the book for a challenge on Brady.  Michael Brown was next into the book before half-time for failing to leave the pitch while he received treatment on a facial injury.

The United manager made a change at half-time with Luke Varney coming on for Somma, but it was Hull who had the first attempt on goal after the re-start when Sone Aluko fired wide from distance. Kenny also had to get down well to get a hand to a David Meyler effort when the hosts broke quickly.

Aluko also whipped a low cross-cum-shot across the face of goal when Meyler was unable to make contact with the goal at his mercy.

But it was 1-0 on 52 minutes when Corry Evans, coming in from the right flank, drilled home another diagonal ball across Kenny and into the far corner.

And worse was to follow just three minutes later when Meyler headed home a corner to double the advantage.

Stephen Quinn had an opportunity to make it 3-0 in the 63rd minute, but Kenny proved equal, making a terrific save to deny the goal.

The remainder of the game was slowly petering out with Hull's two-goal advantage providing enough of a comfort margin against a Leeds side who had struggled to have any kind of hold on the game after the first 20 minutes.

There was still time for Kenny to make a save from Nick Proschwitz, who guided a low header on target.