ROVERS’ worrying winless Championship sequence stretched to nine games after they were comfortably beaten by a Tigers team that went top of the table as a result.

After an even opening period Hull ran out deserved winners thanks to goals from outstanding forwards Abel Hernandez and Mo Diame in the space of 10 second-half minutes.

But Rovers, minus injured captain Grant Hanley, also played a major part in their own downfall and ultimately a defeat which means they sit just five points above the relegation places.

That is a gap they will look to widen when they welcome fellow strugglers Fulham to Ewood Park on Tuesday for what is shaping up to be a crucial clash.

But they will have to perform a lot better than they did after the break here if they are to avoid making it 10 league matches without a victory.

Rovers went into the game on the back of an impressive display at the Tigers’ title-rivals Middlesbrough that had stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to four.

But they suffered a double blow on the morning of the match when a sore shoulder ruled out Hanley and a tight hamstring new striker Danny Graham.

And their ill-fortune continued before kick-off when Hope Akpan pulled out of the starting line-up after feeling sick in the warm-up.

That meant Craig Conway was recalled at the last minute to a Rovers side featuring home debutants Elliott Ward, Jordi Gomez and Tony Watt.

Watt was joined up front by Graham’s replacement, Simeon Jackson, who was making his first league start for the club.

That left Rovers without a recognised targetman and meant they had to play ball on the floor in a first half in which they matched their high-flying opponents.

That said, on a clear and bright but bitterly cold afternoon, it was bigger and more powerful Hull who looked the more threatening.

Hernandez was adjudged to have been offside when he smashed the ball against the post before sharp play around the Rovers box culminated in Jason Steele saving from Sam Clucas.

Allan McGregor was tested for the first time two minutes later when Ben Marshall cut inside on to his left foot and let rip from 20 yards.

Rovers were trying to move everything through Gomez and, at the end of another patient passage of play, Conway worked McGregor from 25 yards.

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But Hull went closer still in the 33rd minute when Diame nutmegged both stand-in skipper Shane Duffy and Corry Evans before curling a shot inches over the bar.

A brave block then denied Darragh Lenihan what looked a certain goal at the other end before England midfielder Tom Huddlestone fired wide for the Tigers.

Rovers could be relatively pleased with their performance up until that point.

But within 18 minutes of the restart the game was out of their reach.

Credit Steve Bruce’s team. They upped the tempo and Paul Lambert’s simply could not live with them.

But they were given a huge helping hand with both of the goals they scored.

Hernandez and Clucas had already sent efforts just wide by the time the deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute.

Tommy Spurr needlessly lost possession and his error was compounded when Ward was unable to cut out Diame’s through pass.

And, with Steele racing out of his goal in attempt to avert the danger, Hernandez nipped in ahead of the goalkeeper and tapped the ball into the empty net for his 17th goal of the campaign and his ninth in his last 10 outings.

Rovers boss Lambert responded by bringing on the suspension-free Chris Brown for Watt.

And moments later Ward wasted a golden opportunity to equalise as his weak shot was cleared off the line by Andrew Robertson after a Gomez corner found its way to the back post.

It proved a pivotal moment as Hull doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute.

Again it was all too easy. More slack play in possession led to Huddlestone sending a pass over the top to Hernandez who, in acres of space, squared for Diame for another tap-in.

It would have got worse for Rovers in the 79th minute had Steele not denied substitute Chuba Akpom from point-blank range after his defence was opened up yet again.

And, while McGregor later saved from Rovers’ best players, Marshall and Evans, the contest was over long before a final whistle that was accompanied by boos from a frustrated Ewood Park faithful which has seen just three home wins all season.

Rovers: Steele, Marshall, Ward, Duffy, Spurr, Evans, Lenihan, Conway, Gomez, Watt (Brown 56), Jackson (Bennett 74). Subs not used: Raya, Henley, Kilgallon, Taylor.

Hull: McGregor, Odubajo, Davies, Dawson, Robertson, Snodgrass (Elmohamady 81), Huddlestone, Livermore, Clucas, Diame (Meyler 86), Hernandez (Akpom 76). Subs not used: Jakupovic, Maguire, Hayden, Diomande.

Goals: Hernandez 53, Diame 63.

Referee: Oliver Langford.

Attendance: 13,902 (1,311 away).