However, there are still 10 games to go but Brown is confident his Tigers will not be dislodged from the top six.

They will not have an easier encounter between now and the end of the season than the one they had on Saturday, though.

It was supposed to be the big derby but Scunthorpe bowed down with barely a whimper.

Hull were the better team in all areas as they completed a double yet one had the suspicion that the Iron were keeping their powder dry for the five games they have against teams around them in the relegation zone – manager Nigel Adkins almost hinting as much.

Striker Craig Fagan was not complaining about Scunthorpe's no-show, however, as he collected winning pay for the first time this season after rejoining the Tigers until the end of the season on Friday night.

Fagan was sold to Derby for £750,000 a year last January and helped them into the Premiership but he missed their only victory in the top flight this season, against Newcastle.

With Caleb Folan starting a three-match ban along with Jay-Jay Okocha following their midweek dismissals, Fagan was thrust straight into the side and formed an effective partnership with Fraizer Campbell, though neither striker got on the scoresheet.

Manager Brown explained: "It was a great bit of business from the chairman (Paul Duffen). He needs to take a lot of credit for that. We have been hunting high and low but nobody wants to let anyone out at this stage of the season. Derby were in a different situation, however, and they are resigned to Championship football next season and the new manager is trying to revamp a side he inherited.

"I was delighted to get Craig Fagan in. He has been here before and I worked well with him then. He was in form before he left and I was sorry to see the back of him. His contract was up at the end of the season and it was money we could not turn down at the time.

"The shoe is on a different foot now and Craig was more than happy to come back and he showed a desire to do what he did last season when he helped get Derby into the Premier League. I hope he's as successful with his Hull campaign."

A keen stats man, Brown added: "The difference between the sides was that one team was in good form and the other were fighting for their lives.

"The key to the game again was the first goal.

"It was pointed out that we had scored in our last 14 games but I checked it out to see how many we had scored first in and there were eight, of which we had won seven and drawn one so that first goal was important."

The Tigers were made to wait for that opener as Scunthorpe goalkeeper Joe Murphy went full-length to keep out an early free-kick from Andy Dawson and went down to his right to save Ian Ashbee's close-range header from the ensuing corner kick.

But, in the 27th minute, Murphy could only parry a shot from Fagan into the air and Henrik Pedersen nodded it into the net for his first goal in 11 games.

Hull's incessant pressure told again 10 minutes later when central defender Michael Turner, with little to do at the back such was the dominant display of colleague Wayne Brown, advanced for a corner.

Andy Dawson swung it over and Turner launched himself above marker Andy Crosby to head home.

"It was great to score in the derby but Brian Horton (No 2) says I should be getting more goals with the number of corners we force and I suppose I should," said Turner after his second of the campaign.

"There's still a long way to go and we need to keep working together to make sure we are there at the end. People talk about pressure but we have just got to concentrate on our own game."

Manager Brown is confident his players will remain focused on promotion.

"Yes, we are capable of staying in the top six and it's not going to be difficult keeping their feet on the ground because we have a group of experienced players and even the young lads all seem as if they are relishing the challenge.

"We have a tremendous captain in Ian Ashbee who won't allow anyone to run away with themselves if I'm not present. We will not get carried away. We have a job to do."

Ashbee hardly needed to be at his biting best in midfield and it was central colleague Dean Marney, in for Okocha, and flank player Pedersen who had the greater influence on proceedings, especially in the second half.

The Iron should have been finished off long before the end but Fagan hit over from inside the six-yard area and Marney fizzed in a long-range drive only to see Murphy go full length and fingertip the ball against the post.

Three attacking changes failed to rally the visitors and their best chance came and went in the first half when industrious striker Ben May crossed only to see Jack Cork head wide.


Hull City: Myhill; Ricketts, Turner, Brown, Dawson; Garcia (France 90), Ashbee, Marney, Pedersen (Walton 84); Campbell, Fagan. Unused substitutes: Tyler, Clement, Bridges.

Scunthorpe United: Murphy, Hobbs, Crosby, Iriekpen, Williams; Cork, Goodwin (Horsfield 82), McCann (Weston 56), Morris (Forte 69); Paterson, May. Unused substitutes: Lillis, Butler.

Referee: M Halsey (Gt Manchester).