http://www.comeonboro.com/matches/07082555.phpCHAMPIONSHIP - SOUTHAMPTON 4 HULL CITY 0 - MATCH REPORT
Stern John bagged a second-half hat-trick as Southampton romped to an emphatic win over Hull at St Mary's.
The Tigers came into the game without a win in three and looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat away to relegation contenders Preston.
But they were undone two minutes before the interval as former Manchester City striker Bradley Wright-Phillips headed in his fourth goal of the season.
If Hull gave as good as they got in the first half, the second was all about John. The Trinidad and Tobago forward doubled the Saints' lead with a close-range header and then added two more in the space of two minutes to reignite the hosts' promotion hopes.The win extended the Saints' unbeaten run to three games and saw them leapfrog their opponents in the table.
It was the visitors carved out the first chance of the match after 10 minutes when evergreen striker Dean Windass met Samuel Ricketts' cross, but his header from six yards flew wide.
Rudi Skacel tried to respond for the Saints, attempting an audacious lob over Tigers goalkeeper Boaz Myhill from the left edge of the penalty area, which dropped wide of the far post.
But Hull could have been in front moments later. Bryan Hughes' cross was blocked by Andrew Surman, and
the ball fell to Jay-Jay Okocha, whose chip into the box was headed tamely over the bar by Damien Delaney.Surman was in the thick of the action at the other end just before the half hour, his venomous goalbound drive superbly blocked by Ricketts.
And the lively Surman showed why he has attracted the eye of England Under-21s boss Stuart Pearce when he let fly again from 25 yards, forcing Myhill into a fine save.
But just as Hull looked like they had done enough to go in level, Wright-Phillips rose highest to meet Adam Hammill's right-wing cross from six yards and plant a header past Myhill.
The home side should have doubled their lead two minutes after the restart when an inswinging corner from the left by Youssef Safri was met by Andrew Davies, but the on-loan defender's close-range header flew wide.
But they did not have long to wait for a two-goal cushion. Hammill was again the provider from out wide, crossing for John to bury a firm header after 58 minutes.The impressive Hammill looked to grab the glory for himself five minutes later, but his fierce effort from long range was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Myhill.
Substitute Stephen McPhee had a chance to halve the deficit, but could only head weakly wide after being picked out by Bryan Hughes.
Dean Marney then blasted an effort over the bar from the edge of the area, but Southampton's lead never looked under threat, and J
ohn made it three with 14 minutes remaining, slotting Marek Saganowski's pass into the bottom corner.The veteran striker still was not finished and completed his hat-trick in some style two minutes later, crashing a fantastic volley into the roof of the net from way out for his ninth goal of the season. 
