Goals from Nick Barmby and Craig Fagan gave Hull victory with Town's injury woes dealt another blow with the first-half loss of Nicky Forster.

The Blues' striker lasted only 27 minutes in Town's first visit to the KC Stadium before being replaced by 17-year-old Danny Haynes.

Barmby gave the Tigers the lead early in the second-half and Fagan wrapped up the points on 70 minutes with a cool finish after Town had been caught out on the break.

Shane Supple was handed his third start for Town, replacing Lewis Price who was a doubt for the game with a groin injury. Jim Magilton coming in for Owen Garvan in the second change from the starting line-up against Palace on Boxing Day.

Supple was soon in action, taking a header from Billy Paynter comfortably while at the other end Boaz Myhill had a lot more trouble in dealing with Ian Westlake's cross.

Westlake was then a victim of a crude challenge from Ryan France, the Hull defender picking up a yellow card.

Jason Price found space inside the Town box on 15 minutes but failed to take advantage then Barmby was crowded out by Sito at the far post from a Fagan cross.

Myhill saved well for the home side from a Forster cross then the Hull 'keeper had a more comfortable job to deal with Gavin Williams' deflected shot.

Price brought a save from Supple with a shot from the edge of the box before Blues were forced into an early change, Danny Haynes replacing Forster.

Westlake caused panic in the home defence with a vicious cross that evaded the lunging Darren Currie then Haynes almost diverted another Westlake cross in at the near post.

Fagan sent a header at Supple, with Richard Naylor then keeping cool to clear the danger just three yards from goal as Price looked to threaten.

Supple was in action again on the stroke of half-time, dealing with Leon Cort's effort at goal as the game reached the break at deadlock.

Jimmy Juan sent an acrobatic volley wide in the first Town attack of the second-half as Blues continued to press forward, Hull creating their own opening with Paynter sending a chip well over the bar from a threatening position inside the Town box.

The breakthrough came on 56 minutes for the Tigers, Barmby getting on the end of a knock back into the Town box and beating Supple from close range.

Blues immediately responded, Williams looking dangerous with a run, then Currie attempting an ambitious strike that flew wide.

Fagan burst clear of the Blues' defence as the game entered the last quarter and should have added a second goal but Supple kept him out with ease. The former Colchester player made amends 60 seconds later though, sliding in Price's cross to double the Tigers' lead on 70 minutes.

Juan had a free-kick deflected wide after Williams had been fouled on the edge of the home team's box as Blues looked for a way back into the game and Welsh international Williams tested Myhill with a drive.

Sito headed off the line as Hull looked to kill of the game, Barmby's shot blocked by De Vos on the edge of the box.

Naylor, playing up front for much of the second-half, just failed to get on the end of a Currie cross then great work by Bam Bam created an opening for Williams but he couldn't make contact at the far post.

The defeat makes it a miserable festive programme for Town so far with the visit of Play-Off contenders Luton to come on Saturday and Joe Royle desperately short of attacking options for that game and the visit to Stoke on the Monday.