HARTLEPOOL UNITED marked a landmark for Ritchie Humphreys with a reminder of the early days of the midfielder's time at Victoria Park.

As Humphreys made his 200th consecutive performance for the club, Pool lost at Hull City - their third successive League defeat.

It's the first time Pool have suffered a triple whammy since September 2001, when the third, fourth and fifth games of Humphreys' Pool career were defeats to Darlington, Orient and Scunthorpe.

Pool and Humphreys have proved a consistent couple since they were matched up almost four years ago.

They are still on course for another play-off campaign, with Bournemouth's defeat to Blackpool last night helping their cause.

Neale Cooper's side were hard done by at Hull's magnificent KC Stadium, taking the game to the Tigers towards the end and suffering as two goalmouth melees went in the home side's favour.

And how happy Hull were with a win over their promotion rivals.

Nicky Barmby fired a shot across the bar, but Pool were soon behind in controversial manner.

Ben Clark nodded the ball away but assistant referee Richard Beevor decreed the defender used his hand after the crowd reacted.

Amid big protests, leading scorer Stuart Elliot scored at the second attempt after Jim Provett saved his low spot-kick.

Clark was furious with the decision. The former Sunderland defender was replaced on Saturday after feeling ill, and this diagnosis from the officials proved about as welcome as a second dose.

But the big defender regained his composure to expertly steal the ball from striker Craig Fagan with the debutant well placed.

Humphreys sprayed a curling pass inside full-back Robbie Stockdale and Joel Porter raced beyond the former Middlesbrough man.

His low pull-back was intended for Boyd, but cut out by Damien Delaney.

Humphreys was sitting deep in central midfield, playing a holding role in front of the back four, with Tony Sweeney given more of an attacking licence.

Barmby may have dropped down a couple of divisions as his career stalled after moving to Leeds, but he showed his football brain hasn't suffered as he sent Humphreys the wrong way with a textbook step-over in the middle of the park.

Pool had their best opening when Boyd fed Porter and, as he ran into the area, the home defence opened up. His shot, however, was blocked by keeper Bo Myhill.

Cooper's side were almost made to pay for the miss as the Tigers, with Fagan coming to the fore, stepped up the pace.

He got in behind Micky Barron, but curled his shot wide of Provett and across to the far flank for a throw-in.

After Elliott and Ian Ashbee missed good chances from left-wing crosses, Pool were glad to hear the whistle. But they emerged with some fire in their bellies, with Porter and Sweeney coming to life.

After Porter was pushed over on the edge of the area, Strachan's free-kick was whipped towards the back post, where Micky Nelson checked his run when he could have connected.

Then, from Williams' deep cross, Boyd headed across goal but lacked the power to trouble Myhill.

For two sides with promotion aspirations it wasn't the best of spectacles.

Pool were supporting lone striker Boyd far more than in the first-half, with Williams and Boyd pressing on to help.

Provett was back in the side for the first time in League One since October, Konstantopoulos axed after conceding six on Saturday.

And last season's player of the year proved his worth when he reacted to paw away the rebound after Elliott's shot hit the post.

Then came Pool's best chance of the half as, from Darren Craddock's cross, Williams was crowded by a pack of Tigers.

They hunted in a pack in injury time as well. Porter's cross from the right found the six-yard box and, as Sweeney and Nelson had efforts charged out, the ball was somehow cleared.