Hull City 3-0 Queens Park Rangers: Hull beat struggling QPR to keep up play-off hopes
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Hull remain six points behind Norwich in sixth but still have a game in hand over their rivals
Hull City maintained their Championship play-off hopes with a resounding victory over struggling QPR, who remain in danger of relegation.
First-half goals from Ozan Tufan and Fabio Carvalho put City in control and any prospect of a Rangers fightback was crushed by Jaden Philogene scoring early in the second half.
It was the Tigers' first home win in more than two months, although their joy was tempered by promotion rivals Norwich scoring a late winner at Preston.
That meant the Canaries, who occupy the final play-off spot, remained six points clear of the seventh-placed Tigers, who have played a game fewer.
Rangers, meanwhile, are three points above the drop zone. The gap to third-from-bottom Huddersfield would have been just two points had the Terriers not conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Bristol City.
Tufan opened the scoring when he cut in from the right and curled a superb shot beyond keeper Asmir Begovic and in off the underside of the bar.
It was Tufan's ninth goal of the season and the Turk then turned provider to send through Carvalho, who coolly dinked the ball over Begovic.
QPR boss Marti Cifuentes made a double change at half-time, bringing on Northern Ireland forward Paul Smyth and replacing right-back Jimmy Dunne, who had been given a torrid time by Philogene, with Reggie Cannon.
Almost immediately, Smyth had a glorious chance to haul Rangers back into the game but fired wide after being set up by Ilias Chair's cross.
It proved to be a costly miss because Hull scored their third shortly afterwards. Sam Field could only head Tyler Morton's cross as far as Philogene, who volleyed past Begovic.
Smyth then missed another great chance, latching on to Field's pass and rounding keeper Ryan Allsop only for his weak shot to allow Matty Jacob to clear off the line.
Cannon also cleared off the line to deny Liam Delap after the on-loan Manchester City youngster had lobbed Begovic.
Delap came on as a second-half substitute for his first appearance after more than three months out injured.
Hull boss Liam Rosenior told BBC Radio Humberside:
"It's been coming, analysing our performances, the areas we get to and the control and dominance we've had in a lot of the games. The difference today was that we were really clinical.
"The players are showing a level of performance that gives me so much confidence going forward. We've got a tough game against Watford next week and all we can do is focus on winning that and see where we end up.
"We just keep going. This club has always kept going until the end and I refuse to give up.
"If we keep playing with that belief and quality there's no reason why we can't make what we set out to achieve."
QPR manager Marti Cifuentes said:
"I was really disappointed with the result. We played against a very good team and they showed their quality after we made a good start to the game.
"I am now not thinking about the narrative of this game - now it is time to move on. Now is the time to stay calm. We have three games to go - two of them at home - so it is up to us.
"I have been saying it (safety) could be (decided) until the last minute of the season.
"Five months ago, perhaps even one month ago, we could only dream (to be 19th in the table). People thought this would be a walk in the park but that is not the case.
"It's up to us. We need to remain together and keep pushing."