Town had poor defending to blame for a third successive away defeat as Hull ran out 3-1 winners. The Blues had their chances in a bright opening but two goals from Henrik Pedersen and one from ex-Town man Wayne Brown put the Tigers in an unassailable position prior to Dan Harding's strike for Town.

Chris Casement came into the side for David Wright with the former Wigan player failing to recover from an infected blister on his heel in time to play. Otherwise, Town were unchanged from the team which defeated Coventry at Portman Road last week.

The Blues started brightly and might have gone ahead in the sixth minute when Pablo Couñago played in Gary Roberts only for Hull keeper Boaz Myhill to save with his feet.

Town continued to press and from a Couñago break, Alan Lee laid the ball off to Tommy Miller on the edge of the area and the summer re-signing from Sunderland hammered a shot off the post.

Neil Alexander did well to react to tip Jay Jay Okocha's lobbed cross-shot over the bar, but from the corner the home side went in front. The ball was played shot for Okocha and the former Nigerian international whipped in a cross to Henrik Pedersen, who escaped marker Alan Lee to head beyond Alexander.

Despite the setback, Town were still on top and in the 13th minute, former Hull man Jon Walters cut the ball back from the byline to Tommy Miller, whose shot was well saved by Myhill, the Blues' midfielder scraping the rebound wide.

Chances continued to come and go, Couñago shot wide from the edge of the area, before Walters sent a ball across the face of goal with no one able to add a final touch. Then Lee crossed from the right and the ball was headed out to Owen Garvan's, whose shot was impressively stopped by Myhill.

Just before the half hour, Town were lucky not to go further behind when Dean Windass found Pedersen unmarked inside the area but the former Bolton man lashed wildly over the bar when he should have scored.

However, the Blues were to pay for their profligacy on 39 when the Tigers went further in front. Windass chipped a ball over the top and Pedersen got behind Bruce, who failed to connect with as he attempted to clear, and slammed the ball past Alexander.

Worse was to follow for Town. In the 43rd minute another short corner was played to Okocha, who sent in a cross which ex-Town defender Wayne Brown, having lost his marker Dan Harding, flicked over Alexander and into the net off the post.

It looked all over for the Blues, but just before half-time Jim Magilton will have been handed some hope when Dan Harding rocketed in his first goal for Town from the edge of the area.

On the balance of play the 3-1 scoreline at the break hardly told the full story, however, Town's defending, particularly from set pieces, had been woeful and Hull boss Phil Brown could hardly have believed his team's good fortune at coming up against side in such a generous mood.

Perhaps surprisingly, Town made no changes at the break. The second half saw few chances for either team with Jay Jay Okocha's 55th minute strike wide of Alexander's goal the only early highlight.

Dean Marney shot wide, prior to Danny Haynes replacing Gary Roberts on the left of midfield.

As the game reached the hour mark, former Colchester midfielder Richard Garcia's shot was easy for Alexander as Hull dominated the play and the Blues made little impression at the other end of the field. On 65 Jaime Peters replaced Alan Lee, Jon Walters moving into the centre and the Canadian taking up his usual right-sided role.

Town's afternoon was summed up in the 80th minute when Tommy Miller wafted a 25-yard freekick well over Myhill's crossbar, the Blues' best chance of the second half.

With nine minutes left Hull sub Bryan Hughes headed into the sidenetting, prior to Sylvain Legwinski taking over from Miller.

As the game dragged to a close, Marney's shot was saved by Alexander, then Walters's clever flick almost played in Couñago but Myhill was out quickly to claim.

Another below par performance from Town on their travels. At West Brom a fortnight ago, the Blues dominated the second half after a dismal first period but conceded three late goals.

This time, Town dominated the first half and yet conceded three poor goals and followed it up with a second half in which they rarely held on to possession, showed little urgency and never threatened to get back into the game.

Manager Jim Magilton has much to ponder before Tuesday's next away game at Burnley.

Town: Alexander, Casement, Harding, De Vos, Bruce, Garvan, Miller (Legwinski 86), Walters, Roberts (Haynes 58), Lee (Peters 65), Couñago. Unused: Supple, Wilnis. Att: 15,456.

Photo: Action Images

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