Thursday 16 March 2017 16:30, UK
Oumar Niasse came off the bench to grab a brace as Hull beat relegation rivals Swansea 2-1 at the KCOM Stadium.
With the match seemingly heading to a goalless stalemate, Tigers boss Marco Silva introduced Niasse and was rewarded almost immediately with two quick-fire goals from the Senegalese striker.
Alfie Mawson pulled one back for the visitors in the closing stages but the hosts held on for what could prove to be a crucial three points in the battle for Premier League survival.
Swansea started the match the better of the two sides and almost took the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour when Wayne Routledge fired against Eldin Jakupovic's legs when presented with a clear sight of goal.
Gylfi Sigurdsson and Fernando Llorente continued to cause the home defence problems but Swansea's forward momentum was halted when Angel Rangel was forced off with an injury midway through the first half.
Hull began to grow into the match and came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock when Lukas Fabianski brilliantly cleared Kamil Grosicki's lob off the line with Abel Hernandez ready to pounce.
Paul Clement was forced into a second change shortly before the break when Llorente limped off after a collision with Tom Huddlestone.
Swansea recovered well from that set-back and should have moved in front after the interval when Routledge blazed a shot high over the bar from eight yards out when it looked easier to score.
However, the visitors were then made to pay when Niasse, brought on as a second-half substitute for Alfred N'Diaye, put Hull ahead with a composed finish under Fabianski after a neat one-two with Hernandez.
The Senegalese striker doubled the home side's advantage with a close-range finish after Mawson allowed a bouncing ball to slip through his legs.
Although the Swansea defender responded for the visitors with a well-directed header in the final minutes, Hull held on to claim a crucial victory at home.
Player ratings (from Press Association Sport)
Hull: Eldin Jakupovic: 6, Omar Elabdellaoui: 7, Andrea Ranocchia: 5, Harry Maguire: 5, Andy Robertson: 6, Sam Clucas: 5, Tom Huddlestone: 7, Alfred N'Diaye: 5, Kamil Grosicki: 5, Abel Hernandez: 6, Lazar Markovic: 6.
Subs: Oumar Niasse (for N'Diaye, 63): 9, Ahmed Elmohamady (for Markovic, 76): 5, David Meyler (for Hernandez, 82): 5.
Swansea: Lukasz Fabianski: 6, Angel Rangel: 5, Alfie Mawson: 6, Federico Fernandez: 5, Martin Olsson: 5, Jack Cork: 6, Tom Carroll: 6, Leroy Fer: 5, Wayne Routledge: 6, Gylfi Sigurdsson: 6, Fernando Llorente: 5.
Subs: Jordi Amat (for Rangel, 33): 5, Jordan Ayew (for Llorente, 45): 5, Luciano Narsingh (for Routledge, 71): 5.
Man of the match: Oumar Niasse
