Hull moved back into the Sky Bet Championship play-off places with a convincing 3-0 victory at home to Cardiff.
Aaron Connolly’s 32nd-minute tap-in – his sixth goal of the season – sent the hosts on their way towards an utterly deserved victory.
Scott Twine’s lovely free-kick in the second half essentially put the match to bed, so poor were Cardiff from the outset.
Ozan Tufan’s artful lob three minutes later added further sheen to the scoreline as the visitors crumbled to a bruising defeat at the MKM Stadium.
Erol Brulet’s men can have few complaints. Hull were far superior in every department and look good value for a profitable Christmas on this evidence.
Indeed the hosts, suitably inspired by victory at Middlesbrough on Wednesday, came close to opening the scoring after just three minutes.
Mark McGuinness made a hash of goalkeeper Ryan Allsop’s long ball, from which Connolly seized control.
His first touch gave him momentum to skip past Jak Alnwick, but Dimi Goutas rescued his side with a late block off the Republic of Ireland international’s goalbound effort.
Passive Cardiff nearly conceded four minutes later when Twine’s free-kick – a sighter of what was to come in the second half – arrowed inches wide of the top-right corner.
Liam Delap then tried his luck from the left angle of the penalty area, but Alnwick was alert to the danger at his near post.
Cardiff fleetingly awoke form their torpor with a solid spell of possession, during which Rubin Colwill should have done better off Yakou Meite’s right-flank cross.
But Hull continued to probe, and scored the goal their first-half endeavours warranted when Delap charged into the box from the right.
The Manchester City loan signing battered a low cross towards the back post at which Connolly could not miss.
Cardiff supporters expecting a response after the interval will have been disappointed.
Hull continued to press in good areas of the pitch, with Delap a tireless presence and Connolly a nuisance through the lines.
The latter earned the free-kick that led to the Tigers’ second goal when he was upended on the edge of the area.
Twine has been criticised by the locals for his set-pieces this season, but this time beautifully arched the ball into the top corner from the left of the D.
Cardiff were arguably beaten long before then, but a home win was rubber-stamped when Tufan chased down Tyler Morton’s precise, whipped pass from deep.
With Alnwick out of position, the Turkey international controlled well before craftily flighting the ball over the goalkeeper’s head.
Substitute Kion Etete at least gave away fans a hint of optimism with a nice hit from distance that was well saved by Allsop after 76 minutes.
But that was as good as it for Brulet’s side, who will be left with much to consider on the long journey back to Wales.
As will Rosenior, for entirely different reasons.
Hayes enjoying tense WSL title race as Chelsea stint winds down
Emma Hayes is determined to enjoy the thrill of a title race going to the wire in her final days as Chelsea boss.
Following their defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League, Chelsea's hopes of winning a trophy to mark Hayes' final season in charge looked slim heading into the run-in of the WSL season.
Yet Manchester City's defeat to Arsenal, combined with an 8-0 victory for Chelsea over Bristol City last time out, has left the Blues in with a great chance.
With the goal difference having swung in Chelsea's favour, victory over Tottenham on Wednesday would see Hayes' team go into the final day of the WSL season in top spot.
And while the pressure is on, Hayes is eager to have fun as she soaks in her final matches of a 12-year tenure.
"I'm going to enjoy being in this position," Hayes said.
"You don't often get into a position where you are competing for a title going into the last two games of a season. For those of us who have won titles, we know how hard it is.
"I’m happy to be in the position we're in. I know we have two tough games but I'm looking forward to them.
"You can't win everything all of the time. But to be in a position to compete for our fifth title in five years, I'd like to see another team do that over the next five years. The reason I say that is nobody really understands how hard that is to keep winning.
"To be in a position to compete for that, that’s all I wanted the team to be in. I just want them to enjoy the next two games."
Tottenham have lost all eight of their WSL games against Chelsea by an aggregate score of 20-5, with the Blues the only team Spurs have never won at least a point against in the competition.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have lost three games in the WSL this season, their most since also recording three defeats during the 2016 campaign.
After facing Spurs, Chelsea round off their season with a trip to FA Cup winners Manchester United, while City take on Aston Villa in their final game.
Vilahamn wants to use FA Cup final defeat as 'beginning' for Tottenham Women
Tottenham Women manager Robert Vilahamn believes his side will use their FA Cup final defeat to start something special, rather than ending their good work.
Spurs were hammered 4-0 by Manchester United Women in Sunday's Wembley Stadium showpiece as Ella Toone and Rachel Williams were on target before Lucia Garcia's second-half double.
Vilahamn's side failed to manage a shot on target but the Spurs boss suggested his team will catch up to the women's elite clubs.
"The main thing I said was this is not the end, it is the beginning," Vilahamn said.
"We still have a gap between us and the top teams but that's normal. We are closing the gap but we haven't closed the gap yet."
Tottenham finished sixth in the Women's Super League as well as reaching this final, their first FA Cup showpiece appearance in their short history.
Vilahamn wants his Spurs players to use this defeat as motivation going forward.
"If you take away the feelings right now, you need to look at these players doing some incredible things this year," he said.
"We are at Wembley playing in front of our fans and they are actually enjoying it and staying, and supporting us after.
"We got a good experience today and we are learning how to play at Wembley more times. We need to look at it that way because the players are amazing."
Erik ten Hag: Man United fans are understanding of situation
Erik ten Hag is confident he still has the understanding of supporters after Manchester United's poor run of form continued with defeat to Arsenal.
United were beaten 1-0 by Premier League title chasers Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday in a game that saw them create little.
While United did well to restrict Arsenal's chances, they had just two shots on target themselves - long-rangers from Casemiro and Antony.
The Red Devils have had to contend with a number of injury problems this season, not least against Arsenal with a makeshift defence fielded.
And for that reason, Ten Hag - whose job beyond this season has been called into question - believes the fanbase remain supportive.
"They understand where we are and where this club is," he told Sky Sports. "We have so many injuries in key areas.
"The fans don't get what they deserve, but they understand this and that is why they are behind the team.
"I think that is why they are with us we are united. Hopefully we can pay them back in the future."
Ten Hag pointed out that United were without seven possible starters, forcing him to field veteran Jonny Evans alongside Casemiro at centre-back.
Casemiro was at fault for Arsenal's goal as he was slow getting back up the field, meaning Havertz was onside before teeing up Trossard.
Ten Hag, though, was not willing to point the finger of blame at the underperforming midfielder.
"In that situation he is a midfielder playing in that position and making a small mistake, but it has hard consequences," he said.
"Before that, in possession we could have done better in others positions. It's details."
Eighth-placed United have won just one of their past eight league matches in a run that includes a 4-0 thumping at Crystal Palace earlier in the week.
The Red Devils have lost 19 games in all competitions this season, which is their most since 1977-78 when also losing 19.
Asked if he believes he is the man to turn things around, Ten Hag said: "I have no doubt about this.
"Mostly, this team has the right spirit and they execute the rules and principles of the game even if they have to adapt in their positions.
"I can only be happy and it is a big compliment for this team that they executed all that they could and they were fighting."
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