SAINTS were dragged right back into relegation trouble as they were hammered 5-0 at Hull.

There was optimism that Saints might be able to get something at the KC Stadium after their midweek win over Leicester.

But all they got was a deserved hiding with results elsewhere meaning they were pulled right back towards the bottom three.

The first half chance of the match came two minutes in when the ball fell to Frazier Campbell 25 yards out but he fired his half volley well over the bar.

Saints created a good opening themselves a minute later when Jason Euell got in a cross from the left that picked out David McGoldrick at the far post but his diving header was collected by Bo Myhill at his near post.

Hull really should have taken the lead after five minutes when a quick free kick allowed Dean Windass the chance to cross from the edge of the area on the right. He found Campbell unmarked six yards out in a central position but his diving header was guided wide of Michael Poke's goal.

But Campbell made no mistake on seven minutes when he finished a more difficult chance to give Hull a 1-0 lead.

It came from a simple long ball down the middle from Dean Marney inside his own half, Campbell turned and sprinted clear of the Saints defence and finished past Poke from outside the area as the Saints keeper advanced to try and narrow the angle.

Hull had appeals for a penalty waved away when Campbell cut inside Wayne Thomas and went down as he got past him but it looked as if the referee gave the right decision when he waved them away.

It was such an open start to the game that chances were coming thick and fast for both teams.

Stern John should have levelled the scores on 12 minutes.

Richard Garcia gave the ball to Euell who quickly spotted John in space and played him in but one-on-one with the keeper just inside the area he fired the ball straight at Myhill who made the save.

Windass hit a volley off balance and well wide on 20 minutes after Poke, who injured his ankle in the warm up, had only punched a cross as far as the edge of the area.

There was a better chance for Michael Turner a minute later when a mishit shot fell his way in the area but he headed over the bar.

Hull were putting the squeeze on Saints, dominating possession and looking to unleash Campbell's pace with balls over the top when Saints did push up.

John had the ball in the net on 25 minutes when he lashed in left footed inside the area but flag was already up offside.

Poke had to be strong on 37 minutes when claiming under his bar under massive pressure knowing any mistake was likely to cost a goal and he was.

Hull were really testing Saints before the break with balls into the area but they were holding firm.

Poke had to make a save from a close range header before half time as the fog which had been over the city all day came over the ground and reduced visibility making it a good time for the referee to blow up for half time with Hull having a 1-0 lead to defend in the second period.

After the lacklustre first half from Saints Pearson tried to turn things around by bringing on new loan signing Vincent Pericard for McGoldrick as the fog got even worse.

The visibility was really becoming a problem as Hull were the first threaten in the second half, Turner flicking Marney's free kick over the bar.

Despite the change it was again Hull who were the brighter team and were who were causing problems in the Saints area and it paid off when they made it 2-0 on 55 minutes.

A long throw into the area wasn't properly cleared and Henrik Pedersen seized on the loose ball to lash home from eight yards out to the right of goal.

It got even worse just a minute later when Hull made it 3-0.

It was another set piece, this time a right wing free kick that was met by the head of Turner who was unchallenged and thundered it into the back of the net.

Saints did have a chance of their own on 58 minutes but Pericard could only direct Mario Licka's free kick at Myhill who saved comfortably.

Hull made their first change on the hour mark with Bryan Hughes replacing Windass. Hughes went to the left of midfield with Pedersen pushing up front.

Saints made a second change two minutes later with Simon Gillett on for Licka.

Poke had to make a good save on 66 minutes as Garcia ended a long spell of possession with a shot from 20 yards that the Saints keeper turned away diving to his left.

But there was nothing he could do two minutes later as it became 4-0.

Campbell was challenged on the edge of the area and the ball came out to Marney who fired a bullet of a first time shot from 25 yards that flew into Poke's bottom right hand corner leaving him with no chance.

Both sides made a change on 70 minutes with Ryan France on for Pedersen for Hull and Jermaine Wright replacing John for Saints as they went to a 4-5-1 formation.

Saints managed a second half shot on 75 minutes when Viafara tried his luck from distance but it flew wide.

Hull made their final change three minutes later with Michael Bridges on for Garcia.

Hull somehow contrived not to score a fifth on 83 minutes when Gregory Vignal couldn't get the ball away from Marney and he lobbed Poke who was caught nowhere but saw his shot rebound off the inside of the post with Bridges trying in vain to turn it home.

Euell forced Myhill into a good save a minute from time with a half volley that he turned behind.

Hull completed the misery in injury time when Campbell squared to Hughes in the area and his side footed shot beat Poke who got fingertips to it and went into the top corner for 5-0 which proved to be the final score as the referee blew the whistle moments later.

Full match report and all the reaction in Monday's Daily Echo.