KINGSTON UPON HULL, United Kingdom (AFP) - Hull ended a disappointing run of form in emphatic style on Saturday as they recorded their best-ever result in the Premier League with a 6-0 hammering of struggling Fulham.
Hull, who had won just twice since September prior to the game, scored all their goals in the second-half to move seven points clear of the relegation places while the visitors remain third from bottom with their defence once again having let them down.
They have conceded 41 goals in 19 games, the worst in the Premier League, and must hope to get positive results at home to fellow relegation candidates West Ham and Sunderland early next year to ease their plight.
Hull dominated the first-half without managing to beat David Stockdale, deputising for first choice 'keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who failed to recover from a calf injury.
Tom Huddlestone rattled the post with a fierce free-kick while Stockdale did brilliantly to deny George Boyd.
Egyptian international Ahmed Elmohamady also went close for the hosts but his long-range shot was saved easily by Stockdale as Hull ended the half having had seven shots to the visitors' two.
Hull kept up the pressure on Fulham straight after the break, Huddlestone again going close with a fine effort that crept over the bar.
Stockdale then did brilliantly in denying first Yannick Sagbo and regathered himself to save from the rebound which fell to Slovenian Robert Koren - but his efforts were to be in vain seconds later.
Huddlestone's corner was only cleared as far as Elmohamady, who made no mistake from the edge of the box with a crisp effort.
From then on Fulham wilted and Hull rubbed in their all-round superiority with two goals in three minutes around the hour mark as first the impressive Koren got on the scoresheet, converting Sagbo's cross. Boyd grabbed Hull's third, although it was more about woeful defending than Boyd's ingenuity.
Jake Livermore's long ball fell to Boyd but he was surrounded by four defenders and somehow managed to shrug them all off to beat Stockdale.
Hull had the bit between the teeth and while in the first-half nothing could beat Sotckdale, now everything they tried came off - Huddlestone crowning a dynamic performance with a fine effort in the 67th minute to make it 4-0.
Huddlestone, who moved from Tottenhham for around 5 million pounds (S$10.4 million), honoured his word, too, as he had promised to have his hair cut once he ended what had become a two-year goal drought and he stopped by the dugout during his celebrations to have a lock of it cut by a member of the backroom staff.
If Fulham hoped Hull's desire for goals was sated they were to be sorely disappointed as Matty Fryatt poked home the fifth after Huddlestone's extraordinary 40-yard free-kick had been tipped onto the bar by Stockdale.
There was even time for Koren to add his second as the 33-year-old fired home from close range after Stockdale's reflex save from Danny Graham had fallen to him.
