Preston 0 Hull City 2: Garcia pulls Tigers out of the relegation zone

The Australian forward missed a glorious chance after 15 minutes but produced an excellent diving header to convert Robert Koren's cross shortly after.

On-loan Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone made his debut for Hull but Preston gave him little to think about in the opening period aside from Adam Barton's early effort.

After the interval North End posed a greater threat and Iain Hume's 25-yard drive was excellently tipped onto the inside of the post by Mannone.

But a horrible error from Sean St Ledger – playing out of position at left-back after North End captain Callum Davidson departed at half-time – allowed Garcia to set up Nicky Barmby for his third goal of the season.

Jay Simpson could have added further gloss to the scoreline for Hull when he hit a post in stoppage time, but it did not matter as a beleaguered North End were left rooted in the relegation zone.

Mannone had sprung into action in the sixth minute, beating away a rasping 20-yard drive from Barton. Jon Parkin poked home the rebound from an offside position.

Garcia shot wastefully wide in the 15th minute after Koren's measured pass caught out the Preston defence, but the same combination gave Hull the lead moments later.

Koren was the architect, marauding down the right to deliver a delicious cross which Garcia finished superbly with a full-length diving header.

The Slovenian playmaker should have doubled Hull's advantage when Anthony Gerrard's pass found North End's backline static once more.

But a heavy touch gave goalkeeper Andy Lonergan time to scramble off his line and make what appeared to be a fine reflex save despite the assistant referee signalling a goal kick.

The visitors sealed the points in the 72nd minute when Garcia pick-pocketed makeshift Lillywhites left-back St Ledger to leave substitute Barmby with a tap-in.

Preston North End: Lonergan, Morgan, Wayne Brown, St. Ledger, Davidson (McLaughlin 46), Parry (Mayor 75), James (Treacy 63), Barton, Hume, Russell, Parkin. Unused substitutes: Arestidou, Nicholson, Wright, Middleton.

Hull City: Mannone, Rosenior (Solano 39), Gerrard, Ayala, Dawson, Koren, Ashbee, Harper, Zayatte (Barmby 58), Kilbane (Simpson 58), Garcia. Unused substitutes: Duke, Cairney, Cooper, Cullen.

Referee: T Kettle (Rutland).