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.

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.

Hat-trick hero

David Nugent scored on his one and only appearance for England - against Andorra in March 2007.

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.

Steve Bruce

"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."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (6)

Leicester

  • 01 Schmeichel
  • 02 De Laet
  • 03 Konchesky
  • 05 Morgan
  • 12 St Ledger
  • 04 Drinkwater
  • 07 Marshall (Dyer - 85' )
  • 16 James (King - 70' )
  • 24 Knockaert
  • 09 Vardy (Waghorn - 74' )
  • 35 Nugent

Substitutes

  • 13 Logan
  • 06 Whitbread
  • 10 King
  • 11 Dyer
  • 14 Waghorn
  • 18 Schlupp
  • 29 Futacs

Hull City

  • 22 Amos
  • 05 Chester
  • 19 Dudgeon (Rosenior - 70' )
  • 28 Bruce
  • 08 Evans (Olofinjana - 78' )
  • 10 Koren
  • 23 Faye (Proschwitz - 78' )
  • 24 Aluko
  • 27 Elmohamady
  • 29 Quinn
  • 11 Simpson

Substitutes

  • 13 Oxley
  • 02 Rosenior
  • 03 Dawson
  • 15 McShane
  • 16 Olofinjana
  • 09 Mclean
  • 33 Proschwitz
Ref: Ilderton
Att: 20,815

Match Stats

Shots

6 4

On target

5 3

Corners

12 4

Fouls

4 4

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:30 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:50

The referee blows for offside against Nick Proschwitz. Indirect free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.

90:00 +0:29

The assist for the goal came from Lloyd Dyer.

90:00 +0:29 Goal scored

Goal - David Nugent - Leicester 3 - 1 Hull Goal scored by David Nugent from the edge of the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Leicester 3-1 Hull.

88:51

Martyn Waghorn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Stephen Quinn. Robert Koren shoots direct from the free kick, save by Kasper Schmeichel. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Stephen Quinn, Ritchie De Laet manages to make a clearance.

84:02 Substitution

Substitution Lloyd Dyer on for Ben Marshall.

80:40

Handball decision goes against James Chester. Shot on goal comes in from Anthony Knockaert from the free kick, Ben Amos makes a comfortable save.

80:00

Jay Simpson is caught offside. Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.

77:28 Substitution

Substitution Seyi Olofinjana is brought on as a substitute for Corry Evans.

77:28 Substitution

Substitution Nick Proschwitz joins the action as a substitute, replacing Abdoulaye Faye.

73:12 Substitution

Substitution Martyn Waghorn replaces Jamie Vardy.

70:42

Corry Evans challenges Danny Drinkwater unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Anthony Knockaert, clearance by Abdoulaye Faye.

69:36 Substitution

Substitution Liam Rosenior comes on in place of Joe Dudgeon.

69:36 Substitution

Substitution Andy King on for Matty James.

61:45

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ritchie De Laet by Stephen Quinn. Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.

60:16

Outswinging corner taken by Anthony Knockaert.

51:39

Sone Aluko takes a shot. Kasper Schmeichel makes a save. Corner taken right-footed by Robert Koren, clearance made by Danny Drinkwater.

50:09

Corner taken by Ben Marshall from the left by-line, Unfair challenge on Ben Amos by Wes Morgan results in a free kick. Ben Amos restarts play with the free kick.

48:41

Corner taken by Ben Marshall, clearance by Ahmed Elmohamady.

47:02

Inswinging corner taken by Anthony Knockaert.

45:18

Corner taken by Ben Marshall from the left by-line, clearance made by Ahmed Elmohamady.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +2:01 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +1:11

Sone Aluko is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kasper Schmeichel takes the indirect free kick.

41:06

The assist for the goal came from Anthony Knockaert.

41:06 Goal scored

Goal - David Nugent - Leicester 2 - 1 Hull David Nugent finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Leicester 2-1 Hull.

40:27

Inswinging corner taken by Anthony Knockaert, clearance by Abdoulaye Faye.

38:43

Corner taken by Stephen Quinn from the right by-line played to the near post, Ahmed Elmohamady has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.

37:25

Foul by James Chester on David Nugent, free kick awarded. Paul Konchesky delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, clearance by James Chester.

31:32

Robert Koren takes the inswinging corner, Danny Drinkwater makes a clearance.

29:29

Danny Drinkwater produces a left-footed shot from long range that goes harmlessly over the bar.

25:22

Assist on the goal came from Sone Aluko.

25:22 Goal scored

Goal - Jay Simpson - Leicester 1 - 1 Hull Jay Simpson grabs a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Leicester 1-1 Hull.

25:09

The ball is swung over by Sone Aluko,

23:20

Sone Aluko fouled by Anthony Knockaert, the ref awards a free kick. Sone Aluko delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel.

16:26

Ben Marshall takes the inswinging corner, save made by Ben Amos.

15:15

The official flags Jay Simpson offside. Free kick taken by Kasper Schmeichel.

13:19

David Nugent takes a shot. Blocked by Alex Bruce. Corner taken by Anthony Knockaert from the right by-line, Stephen Quinn manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Anthony Knockaert.

9:00

Corner taken right-footed by Ben Marshall, Joe Dudgeon manages to make a clearance. Corner from the right by-line taken by Anthony Knockaert, save made by Ben Amos.

8:19

Centre by Sean St. Ledger, Ben Amos makes a save. Corner from the left by-line taken by Ben Marshall, James Chester manages to make a clearance.

6:21

Assist by Ben Marshall.

6:21 Goal scored

Goal - David Nugent - Leicester 1 - 0 Hull David Nugent gets on the score sheet with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Leicester 1-0 Hull.

5:19

Foul by Sone Aluko on Sean St. Ledger, free kick awarded. Sean St. Ledger restarts play with the free kick.

3:30

The assistant referee signals for offside against Jay Simpson. Sean St. Ledger takes the free kick.

2:13

Matty James concedes a free kick for a foul on Corry Evans. James Chester restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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