Goals from Abel Hernandez and Sam Clucas helped Hull City move up to second in the Championship with a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City at the KC Stadium.

Steve Bruce's side has been in imperious form at home this season, and it was awarded a penalty after 39 minutes when Harry Maguire was hauled down in the box and Hernandez scored his 12th goal of the season from the subsequent spot-kick.

Hull carried the momentum of the goal into the second half, launching into attack from the kick-off, and it was rewarded with a second in the 51st minute.

Clucas, who was at the heart of much of Hull's best forward play, struck a shot that was blocked by Lee Peltier and he volleyed the rebound past goalkeeper David Marshall.

The win was Hull's seventh in its last eight league games and moved it five points behind leader Middlesbrough, which has a game in hand, while Cardiff is seven points shy of the play-offs in ninth.