Callum Robinson is Cardiff's top scorer this season with 12 goals
Cardiff City landed a significant blow in the battle for Championship survival as they dug in for a home win over Hull City to overtake their fellow strugglers.
Seemingly paralysed by the fear of losing such an important game, both sides served up one of the most forgettable first halves of football you are likely to see at any level this season.
Fortunately there was a marked improvement after the interval as Callum Robinson fired Cardiff in front with a controlled but deflected volley.
Anxiety set in again as the home side looked to cling on to their lead, and they were thankful that unmarked Hull centre-back Alfie Jones could only head straight at Bluebirds goalkeeper Evan Horvath in the closing stages.
Cardiff climb to 19th in the table - six points clear of the relegation zone - while Hull drop to 21st, with three points separating them and the bottom three.
At this advanced stage of a season, matches like these - between two teams sat uncomfortably close together towards the bottom of the table - can be unbearably tense.
And while there were undoubtedly nerves on both sides, the first half was so severely lacking in quality or meaningful incident that it was almost completely devoid of feeling.
Robinson managed two shots for Cardiff, one wide and the other comfortably saved, but had this match been a frame of snooker the referee might have suggested a re-rack.
The announcement of five added minutes prompted grumbles around Cardiff City Stadium, although Bluebirds forward Cian Ashford provided some late impetus with a darting run and pass for Yousef Salech, whose shot was pushed away by Ivor Pandur in the Hull goal.
That set the tone for a start to the second half where the intensity and pace of the game was far greater, with Perry Ng's free-kick drawing another save from Pandur.
Less than a minute later, the Hull goalkeeper was powerless as Chris Willock's cross was only cleared as far as Robinson, who carefully watched the ball come down and guided his volley into the bottom corner with the help of a deflection.
The home crowd were buoyant but, as Cardiff dropped back further to preserve their precious lead, apprehension crept in.
Hull toiled for an equaliser and, just when they thought their chance had come with six minutes left, Jones could only head Abu Kamara's inviting cross straight at Horvath.
There were further moments when Cardiff's players and fans held their breath, but the Bluebirds' defence was resolute enough to repel Hull's ailing attacking efforts and secure three vital points.
'My eyes are hurting' - post-match reaction
Cardiff manager Omer Riza:
"I'm relieved. We needed it, we knew that, the players and staff knew that, we've come close and not managed to do it against teams around us - or not been good enough at times.
"It was a really tough game, we gave up a bit of possession, we wanted to be structured and disciplined. My eyes are hurting - it wasn't pretty - but three points is three points. I don't think we played well today.
"We did what we needed to do, that's important, we showed that resilience and that togetherness. They didn't cause too many problems, but I'm just happy to grind out a result and an important three points."
Hull head coach Ruben Selles:
"We are a team that's performing in two different ways. At times we look like we can compete with anyone and then at others we look like we are suffering.
"We have to break that chain or we are going to suffer to the end of the season. We are disappointed because we have got a lot more to offer.
"We are good in the games in which we can go on the attack and make the second movement, but when we are waiting on a game that was as slow as we played today we cannot compete."
