Goal-crazy Town inflicted Hull City's biggest ever defeat at the KC Stadium, the Blues coming from behind to win 5-2. Dean Windass put the Tigers in front but Town struck back through Franny Jeffers, Jaime Peters, Alan Lee, Jason De Vos and Danny Haynes before Windass netted a late penalty.
Boss Jim Magilton decided to continue with the 4-4-2 formation which defeated QPR on Saturday. The team was unchanged aside from Franny Jeffers making his full Town debut in place of Jon Walters. The former Hull City striker has been suffering with a hamstring problem since late last week but was fit enough for the bench. The home side included ex-Blue Nicky Forster in their starting line-up.
There were few early signs of the destruction to come with Forster creating a chance for Stuart Elliott in the second minute but the Northern Irishman headed over from six yards.
Jason De Vos did well to nip in ahead of Dean Windass on seven as Hull broke after Gary Roberts had lost possession on halfway, the midfielder appearing to be a victim of a surface which looked as if a horse race had recently been run on it.
Town's first chance came in the 13th minute, De Vos heading down an Owen Garvan cross and Sylvain Legwinski slicing the ball over the bar.
The home side were still creating the better opportunities, Dean Marney sending in a deep freekick from the left and Damien Delaney shooting over at the far post. Two minutes later, Ray Parlour scooped over from 25 yards.
But the home fans didn't have to wait much longer for the goal their side deserved on the balance of the early play. Sam Ricketts crossed from the right, Stuart Elliott looped a header which Lewis Price superbly tipped onto the bar but, like Paul Furlong in similar circumstances on Saturday, Dean Windass reacted quickest to hammer into the net from a few feet.
It looked like it was going to be another disappointing night for Town's match-weary and goal-starved away support, until full debutant Jeffers popped up to net his first for the Blues. The striker seized on a ball over the top which had been completely missed by central defender Damien Delaney, eventually getting the better of the surface and beating Boaz Myhill from close range to break Town's seven-game away goal drought.
Gary Roberts picked up the game's first yellow card for a foul on Marney on 26, then Nicky Forster shot across Lewis Price but not powerfully enough to trouble his former team-mate.
Windass headed straight at Price, then Marney was given time to flick the ball up on the edge of the area and sent a shot over the bar.
Town went ahead in the 41st minute, a long ball sent over the top for Jeffers to chase struck the frontman on the back. The loose ball eventually fell to Roberts who sent it across the edge of the penalty area to Jaime Peters in space, the Canadian hitting a shot which deflected off Ricketts, over Myhill and into the net for his second goal of the season.
Price saved a 25-yard Windass shot with little problem, then the former Bradford man diverted a Forster cross wide at the far post.
Town were perhaps fortunate to find themselves ahead at the break, the home side having had the better chances. If anything the Blues could point to their own finishing being better than the home side's, while neither defence had covered themselves in glory in admittedly difficult conditions.
The pattern of the second half was set in the 49th minute. Jeffers played through Alan Lee who held off two defenders before shooting right-footed across Myhill and into the net for his 14th of the season.
From there it was all Town. On 62 more disastrous defending from Hull led to the fourth, Danny Coles inexplicably heading a David Wright freekick across his own six-yard box and into the path of Jason De Vos who gleefully tapped home.
As the home fans started to leave in droves, former Tiger Jon Walters took over from Franny Jeffers, the loanee from Blackburn receiving a warm ovation from the Town support.
Myhill saved well from Garvan in the 65th minute as Town, exuding new-found confidence, burst forward in numbers at every opportunity. Another break led to Peters shooting wide from the edge of the box. On 72 Danny Haynes replaced the Canadian, then seven minutes later Matt Richards took over from Lee.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Danny Haynes left Andy Dawson standing as he took the ball in from the right and lashed an unstoppable shot past the increasingly frustrated Myhill, again afforded little protection by his woeful defence.
The home side pulled a goal back a minute later when Garvan tripped Jon Welsh inside the area, Windass sending Price the wrong way from the spot.
Roberts put Walters in the clear on halfway four minutes from time but the striker shot wide. Legwinski's 20-yarder flew wide as the announcement of four minutes of injury time was booed by the home support.
Haynes could have made it six in the final minutes, the striker cutting in from the left and striking Myhill with his shot when he probably should have scored. Legwinski went well wide with his rebound.
A brilliant counter-attacking second half display from the Blues who rarely looked in any trouble after Alan Lee had netted the third goal just after the break. The confidence which had seemed so lacking in recent weeks flowed and in the end the score could have been anything up to about 8-2.
The Blues were helped by awful defending from a Hull side which had probably had the better of the first half but which appeared to completely disintegrate as Town piled on the goals in the second half.
Town's Championship status now looks all but mathematically assured with a chance of a further three points — and even more goals — at home to Southend on Saturday.
Town: Price, Wright, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Legwinski, Garvan, Roberts, Peters (Haynes 80), Lee (Richards 79), Jeffers (Walters 62). Unused: Supple, O'Callaghan. Att: 18,056.