HULL City capitalised on a huge opening in the automatic promotion race as George Boyd's second-half strike earned a gritty 1-0 victory at Huddersfield Town this evening.
The on-loan Peterborough forward settled a tight encounter two minutes after the break with a brilliant finish to establish daylight between City and the chasing play-off pack for the first time.
A 10th away win of the season drew the Tigers four points clear of third-placed Watford, who they welcome to the KC Stadium for a mouthwatering encounter on Tuesday night.
Although Huddersfield threatened a comeback late in the game, Steve Bruce's unyielding defence held out manfully for a vital three-point haul.
The stumbles of their automatic promotion rivals, with no side in the top 10 beginning Easter with a win, made the trip to the John Smith's Stadium a golden chance for City to pull clear
Minor injuries to Stephen Quinn and Gedo meant they joined Paul McShane as the three players to drop out of the starting XI. Abdoulaye Faye, Alex Bruce and Jay Simpson all returned to the fold against a Huddersfield side peering anxiously behind them at the bottom three.
The high stakes appeared to take their toll on both sides during a first half littered with individual mistakes.
City's only shot on goal came after seven minutes when David Meyler's low cross picked out Simpson on the penalty spot. The connection was sweet enough on a half-volley but the shot was straight at Huddersfield keeper Alex Smithies.
Although the Terriers threatened briefly soon after through a low drive from Neil Danns, a terrible playing surface persuaded too many balls to be hit long from both sides. The inevitable results brought a tepid encounter devoid of attacking value.
Perhaps the most important moment of the first half was a silly yellow card for Meyler. His 10th of the season rules him out of next week's home games with Watford and Middlesbrough.
If Steve Bruce urged his side to grab the initiative with a bolder approach, the message hit home with the dream start to the second period.
A quick break saw Simpson collect possession and thread a lovely ball through the Huddersfield defence to set Boyd clear. The on-loan striker had work still to do but fired an unstoppable finish into the roof of the net for his fourth goal in five starts for the Tigers.
Any confidence left in the home was tested as City hit the front, but the Terriers' response was far from convincing.
A Danns header straight at Stockdale was handled comfortably, while James Vaughan's overhead kick drifted harmlessly wide.
City, meanwhile, were reluctant to take any chances at the opposite end, and only Boyd's shot straight at Smithies threatened a second.
The final 10 minutes of the game was an examination of the Tigers' resilience as Huddersfield desperately tried to engineer a share of the spoils.
A faultless rearguard action was tested until the game's last attack but when Stockdale dropped a cross, substitute Corry Evans blocked Vaughan's shot brilliantly.
The full-time whistle brought jubilant celebrations from the 428 travelling fans and confirmed the Tigers' status as the team holding all the aces going into the last seven games.
The on-loan Peterborough forward settled a tight encounter two minutes after the break with a brilliant finish to establish daylight between City and the chasing play-off pack for the first time.
A 10th away win of the season drew the Tigers four points clear of third-placed Watford, who they welcome to the KC Stadium for a mouthwatering encounter on Tuesday night.
Although Huddersfield threatened a comeback late in the game, Steve Bruce's unyielding defence held out manfully for a vital three-point haul.
The stumbles of their automatic promotion rivals, with no side in the top 10 beginning Easter with a win, made the trip to the John Smith's Stadium a golden chance for City to pull clear
Minor injuries to Stephen Quinn and Gedo meant they joined Paul McShane as the three players to drop out of the starting XI. Abdoulaye Faye, Alex Bruce and Jay Simpson all returned to the fold against a Huddersfield side peering anxiously behind them at the bottom three.
The high stakes appeared to take their toll on both sides during a first half littered with individual mistakes.
City's only shot on goal came after seven minutes when David Meyler's low cross picked out Simpson on the penalty spot. The connection was sweet enough on a half-volley but the shot was straight at Huddersfield keeper Alex Smithies.
Although the Terriers threatened briefly soon after through a low drive from Neil Danns, a terrible playing surface persuaded too many balls to be hit long from both sides. The inevitable results brought a tepid encounter devoid of attacking value.
Perhaps the most important moment of the first half was a silly yellow card for Meyler. His 10th of the season rules him out of next week's home games with Watford and Middlesbrough.
If Steve Bruce urged his side to grab the initiative with a bolder approach, the message hit home with the dream start to the second period.
A quick break saw Simpson collect possession and thread a lovely ball through the Huddersfield defence to set Boyd clear. The on-loan striker had work still to do but fired an unstoppable finish into the roof of the net for his fourth goal in five starts for the Tigers.
Any confidence left in the home was tested as City hit the front, but the Terriers' response was far from convincing.
A Danns header straight at Stockdale was handled comfortably, while James Vaughan's overhead kick drifted harmlessly wide.
City, meanwhile, were reluctant to take any chances at the opposite end, and only Boyd's shot straight at Smithies threatened a second.
The final 10 minutes of the game was an examination of the Tigers' resilience as Huddersfield desperately tried to engineer a share of the spoils.
A faultless rearguard action was tested until the game's last attack but when Stockdale dropped a cross, substitute Corry Evans blocked Vaughan's shot brilliantly.
The full-time whistle brought jubilant celebrations from the 428 travelling fans and confirmed the Tigers' status as the team holding all the aces going into the last seven games.
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