Leicester 3-1 Hull City
- Published
David Nugent
David Nugent scored a hat-trick as Leicester made it four home league wins on the trot with victory over Hull.
Nugent opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but Jay Simpson equalised midway through the first half when he turned in Sone Aluko's cross.
Leicester were back in front when Anthony Knockaert crossed for Nugent to head in from close range and he added a 90th-minute third.
Game-plan worked well - Pearson
The win moves Leicester up to seventh while Hull remain fourth.
Three points against his former club will have pleased Foxes manager Nigel Pearson, and the margin of victory could have been even greater.
After former England striker Nugent had put the home side into the lead, Jamie Vardy twice went close to doubling the advantage but was denied by some last-ditch defending.
Leicester reacted well to being pegged back by Simpson and Danny Drinkwater went close before Nugent doubled his tally.
At the other end, Aluko tried his luck with a 25-yard shot which Kasper Schmeichel tipped wide before Hull manager Steve Bruce sent on £2.5m signing Nick Proschwitz.
However, it was Leicester who scored again when Nugent completed his treble.
To cap a miserable afternoon for Bruce, the Tigers manager was sent to the stands for his reaction to a decision from the linesman who adjudged the ball to have gone out of play as Hull tried to break clear.
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson:
"I think it was a deserved win. We were the better side all through the game and dominated the second half in terms of territorial advantage.
"Four home wins in a row is obviously very pleasing but clearly we need to get our away form going.
"It was good for Nugent to get the hat-trick and he proved you have just got to keep working hard when things are not going your way.
"Strikers thrive on confidence and we got the result we deserved today."
Hull manager Steve Bruce:
"We did not deserve anything. The better team won on the day and we are very disappointed after the way we have played over the last few weeks.
"Too many of our big players did not perform to the levels they have been at. I do not think we defended well enough or did enough to put Leicester off their stride.
"I have just been into see the referee to apologise. Sometimes you do some stupid things, at my age especially.
"I contested a decision that had gone against us but I still should not go on like some raving lunatic, which I did and I have apologised."