2nd place Hull City 1-5th place Hartlepool United 0

A rebound from a penalty was enough for Hull City to edge ever closer to the Championship and ensure a ten-point cushion between them and third-placed side Sheffield Wednesday.

They started the game much more confidently, with Hartlepool's defence looking rather unsteady at times. In the first minutes, an excellent left-foot shot by Nick Barmby flew just wide from 20 yards out, after being played in by Craig Fagan - a combination that looked increasingly promising.

The Tigers took the lead in the 12th minute after the linesman ruled Clark to have handled in the area. Top scorer Stuart Elliott saw his weak spot-kick saved by keeper Jim Provett, but the Northern Ireland international was there to put the rebound into an empty net.
City came agonisingly close to getting the all-important second goal after more good work by Barmby on the left saw Elliott pick up the ball in a central position, and his powerful shot from 20 yards out cannoned off the crossbar. Keeper Provett floundered, before Hartlepool somehow scrambled the ball off the line. Elliott could have scored two more in the last ten minutes, bringing good saves from Provett.

However, this made the tigers look good and the further through the season we can stay in the top two in league 1, the more I think we will more than likely be playing football in the Championship next season!