Hull City recorded four Championship victories for the first time since November 2021 and moved into third with a crucial 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Despite not being at their best against Valerien Ismael's relegation-threatened Rovers, the Tigers took all three points when Lewis Koumas marked his debut with the winner, less than 24 hours after his loan switch from Liverpool was confirmed.
Sergej Jakirovic's side were then able to see out the final nine-plus minutes to narrow the gap on the automatic promotion places with a third win in this part of East Lancashire in as many seasons.
Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Hull City
Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City at Ewood Park
The promotion-chasing Tigers started the brighter of the two sides, with both Charlie Hughes and Amir Hadziahmetovic forcing Balazs Toth into smart saves, with the second of those coming from a tight angle.
Rovers striker, Yuki Ohashi, then mustered the hosts' first half-chance of the game as his close-range header deflected off Akin Famewo.
The Tigers continued to look dangerous on the left flank, with Regan Slater given time to fire a low effort which Toth could only parry into Oli McBurnie's path, before Slater saw a second effort eventually cleared away.
Midway through the first half, Ryoya Morishita had the beating of Akin Famewo after a swift break from the hosts, but Hughes was on hand to stop Ohashi from steering the ball towards goal. Morishita then saw a low drive well-blocked by Lewie Coyle.
Rovers' tails were well and truly up, with the City rearguard just about able to repel a low cross from Mathias Jorgensen, who was unable to pick out one of his teammates inside the box.
Ivor Pandur was called into action for the first time 13 minutes before the break, with the Croatian tipping an effort from Ryan Alebiousu past the post after the full-back was able to drift into a central shooting position. After breaking away from the resulting corner, Liam Millar was then denied his third of the season after a strong save from Toth in what was the last meaningful effort of the first period.
Joe Gelhardt provided the first effort of the second half as his effort deflected off Eiran Cashin following a smart break from the Tigers, although nothing would come from two subsequent corners.
A cheap giveaway from John Lundstram presented Ohashi with the chance to fizz a cross across the Hull box on 58 minutes, but neither Cantwel nor Jorgensen could connect. The Japanese forward continued to pile on the pressure just seconds later, with Pandur eventually able to gather his free header.
The hosts could have, again, broken the deadlock from the following chance as Jorgensen got in between Egan and Hughes to send a header of his own just over the crossbar. Five minutes later, yet another chance went begging for Ismael's side as substitute, Moussa Baradji, found space to squirm his close-range strike.
A well-worked move from Hull midway through the half eventually fell at the feet of Kieran Dowell, who fired a half-volley high and wide after bursting into the box.
With 13 minutes to go, an inch-perfect tackle from Lewis Miller denied McBurnie from turning home his 12th of the season after playing a one-two with Gelhardt, in what was the pair's final action of the match.
Despite being frustrated for the majority of the encounter, Hull would find the breakthrough nine minutes from time as Koumas rounded off a smart passing move to slot underneath the body of Toth with his first touch in City colours.
Lewis Koumas scores for Hull City
The roles were very nearly reversed with two minutes to go as Koumas' defence-splitting pass set Joseph away, but Toth was able to thwart the Hull striker.
City were then able to see out the final minutes to leapfrog Ipswich Town into third, and they could close the gap on the top two to just two points against Watford in midweek.
FT: Blackburn Rovers 0-1 Hull City
Player Ratings
Blackburn Rovers
Balazs Toth - 6
Ryan Alebiosu - 7 (Miller 46" - 6)
Connor O'Riordan - 6.5
Sean McLoughlin - 6.5
Eiran Cashin - 6.5
Sondre Tronstad - 7
Adam Forshaw - 7 (Baradji 57" - 6)
Ryoya Morishita - 7 (De Neve 66" - 6.5)
Todd Cantwell - 6.5
Mathias Jorgensen - 6.5
Yuki Ohashi - 6.5 (Gudjohnsen 66" - 6)
Unused Subs: N.Michalski, H.Carter, H.Pickering, K.Montgomery, A.Doherty
Hull City
Ivor Pandur - 7.5
Lewie Coyle - 7
John Egan - 7
Charlie Hughes - 7.5
Akin Famewo - 7.5 (Jacob 71" - 6)
John Lundstram - 6 (Hirakawa 61" - 6.5)
Regan Slater - 7
Joe Gelhardt - 6.5 (Koumas 77" - 7.5)
Amir Hadziahmetovic - 6.5
Liam Millar - 6.5 (Dowell 60" - 6.5)
Oli McBurnie - 6.5 (Joseph 77" - 7)
Unused Subs: D.Phillips, C.McCarthy, P.McNair, H.Parker
Attendance
Ewood Park - Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City
The attendance at Ewood Park this afternoon was 13,769, including 2,948 Hull City supporters.