James Ward-Prowse and Graziano Pelle both broke their scoring droughts as Saints climbed up to fifth with a 2-0 win over Hull at St Mary’s.

Ward-Prowse’s second half opener from the penalty spot was his first goal for more than three years, and a first ever in the Premier League.

Pelle added Saints’ second with nine minutes remaining to end a run of 14 top flight matches without a goal.

With Tottenham suffering a shock home defeat to Aston Villa, three points for Saints saw Ronald Koeman’s side leapfrog Spurs into fifth and take another decisive step towards securing European football for next season.

Saints were presented with an opportunity virtually straight from the kick-off as a woefully directed Hull backpass from the halfway line set Shane Long in on goal.

He opted to take the ball round the outside of keeper Steve Harper but a heavy touch meant he overran it and it went harmlessly behind.

Daily Echo:

Hull didn’t take long to create an opening either as Stephen Quinn cut inside Toby Alderweireld and fed the ball to Sone Aluko but he dragged his shot from 12 yards out across goal and wide of the target.

Aluko did get a shot on target on six minutes, this time bursting down the right and firing low across goal from a tight angle, but Kelvin Davis got down sharply to his right to save.

Hull were causing Saints a few problems early on with Dame N’Doye bringing down a ball that beat Maya Yoshida in the air but slicing well wide.

Saints weathered the storm and started to get a foothold in the game, keeping the ball better and pressing Hull back.

They got a half chance on 16 minutes when a ball dropped to Morgan Schneiderlin just inside the area but he sliced wide a tricky volley.

It took until 20 minutes before Saints created a great chance, which fell to Graziano Pelle.

Long showed great strength to win a raking cross field pass and cut in from the left. He pulled the trigger inside the area but saw his shot blocked by a brave sliding challenge and it broke to Pelle, whose first time shot from eight yards out was straight at Harper who did well to save with his legs.

Daily Echo:

Hull always posed a threat though, especially while Saints just struggling for a bit of sharpness, and Aluko’s speculative effort from 25 yards out whistled only narrowly wide of the post.

Saints were happy to escape again on 32 minutes when a left wing cross made its way to Quinn but he volleyed into the ground and it was easy for Kelvin Davis.

Pelle became the first man in the book after his arm clubbed into the face of Alex Bruce after challenging for a ball in the air.

Daily Echo:

Saints were dealt a blow when Victor Wanyama appeared to stop the break of Aluko with a fair challenge only for referee Kevin Friend to adjudge that he pulled the Hull man back. It resulted in a yellow card, which was Wanyama’s tenth of the season, meaning he now has to serve a two game ban.

Alderweireld threatened in first half stoppage time with a low drive that Harper saved and at the break it was still goalless.

Koeman made a half time change to protect his side against a possible sending off for Wanyama by replacing him with James Ward-Prowse.

Daily Echo:

Saints didn’t start the second half with an awful lot more urgency, still somewhat sluggish and struggling to really make an impact.

They were grateful to Kelvin Davis for an excellent save on 54 minutes to keep the scores level. The Saints stopper made a superb dive to his left to manage to keep out a fierce low drive from just outside the area by Jake Livermore.

It proved a turning point as a ball down the outside moments later led to the Saints opener.

Daily Echo:

Saints finally got something to grab hold of as Long burst behind and into the area down the right side and was chopped down by Bruce.

There was no doubt it was a penalty and referee Friend duly pointed to the spot.

Ward-Prowse stepped up to take it on 56 minutes and showed great technique and composure to side foot home with Harper guessing correctly and diving to his left but well beaten by the direction and pace of the strike as the midfielder scored his first ever Premier League goal.

Daily Echo:

Hull threatened to equalise soon afterwards as James Chrster headed goalwards from a corner but Ryan Bertrand hacked the ball off the line.

Saints made a second change on 61 minutes with Dusan Tadic replacing Mane. Hull responded with Mohamed Diame coming on for Chester.

Both sides made a further switch on 74 minutes. Hull brought on Yannick Sagbo for Tom Huddlestone while for Saints it was their final one with Eljero Elia replacing Long.

Daily Echo:

There was much to celebrate with nine minutes remaining as Saints sealed the win – and Pelle broke his scoring duck.

It was an incisive and well worked Saints move that led to the goal.

Tadic cut inside from the right and feed a perfect ball down the outside to Schneiderlin in the area. He intelligently pulled it back to Pelle who had the simple task of rolling home a finish from eight yards out with Harper all but beaten.

Daily Echo:

Hull made a final change with Abel Hernandez coming on for Aluko. Saints should have added another goal on 89 minutes as Alderweireld got to the right by-line and cut the ball back perfectly to Steven Davis in the centre of the goal, just eight yards out.

However, he was left with his head in his hands as he sidefooted his finish over the bar.

It mattered not though for Saints as by that stage they had taken the wind out of Hull’s sails and done enough to equal their record Premier League points haul for a season and move still closer to European football.