Hull City 2 Dundee United 1

Dundee United went down to a narrow defeat against Hull City despite showing very well for long stages at the KC Stadium.

The Arabs actually found themselves behind on ten minutes when Tom Cairney lashed a tremendous 25-yard finish into the top corner after his first attempt had been charged down by Scott Robertson.

But the visitors were back level just four minutes later as Paul Dixon's inswinging free-kick was turned past goalkeeper Matt Duke by trialist Lithuanian defender Irmantas Zelmikas.

Dixon and David Goodwillie then both threatened to edge the Arabs ahead, while Garry Kenneth responded well to halt the threat of Caleb Folan at the opposite end.

However, it was the hosts who still moved back in front five minutes into the second-half in rather fortuitous fashion after Sean Dillon was harshly penalised for a challenge on Folan.

Nolberto Solano's subsequent deflected 25-yard free-kick was then superbly parried by Slovakian keeper Dusan Pernis - only for the ball to hit the luckless Zelmikas and divert agonisingly into his own net.

Former England international Nick Barmby then broke clear and dragged a shot wide as the home side threatened to add another, while good support work from Morgaro Gomis allowed Goodwillie to strike a rising drive narrowly over in reply.

Substitute Andis Shala also poked a late opportunity wide as the visitors couldn't quite find an equaliser that much of their impressive play had deserved.

Hull City: Duke, Solano (Cullen 69), Kilbane, Olofinjana (Ashbee 46), Gardner, Zayette, Garcia, Barmby (Devitt 58), Folan, Cairney, Halmosi (Atkinson 46)

subs (unused): Oxley, McShane, Cooper, Featherstone, Cousin.

Dundee United: Pernis, Watson, Dixon (Douglas 80), Zemlikas, Kenneth (Dods 80), S. Robertson, Dillon, Buaben (Shala 76), Goodwillie (Hasselbaink 86), Casalinuovo (Myrie-Williams 76), Gomis

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