Hull City's fine form continued as they held off a spirited Swansea City side to claim an entertaining 2-1 victory at the MKM Stadium.

Oli McBurnie's penalty gave Hull the lead, the former Swansea striker sending goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux the wrong way from the spot after Ben Cabango had inexplicably handled Amir Hazdiahmetovic's free-kick.

Swansea missed two golden chances to level, with Championship leading scorer Zan Vipotnik twice guiding Josh Tymon crosses wide of the far post when he seemed almost certain to find the target.

The Tigers made Swansea pay for their wastefulness when Ronald's clearance dropped to Regan Slater and he drove home emphatically from outside the area before half-time.

Yet Swansea heads did not drop, and they deservedly pulled a goal back when Liam Cullen met Tymon's corner with a flicked header which crossed the line before Jay Fulton got a touch at the far post.

Substitutes Marko Stamenic and Melker Widell both drew sharp saves from Ivor Pandur as Swansea chased an equaliser, though Yu Hirakawa and Kyle Joseph came close on the counter as Hull just did enough to secure an eighth win in their past 11 Championship games.

Sergej Jakirovic's side stay five points adrift of the automatic promotion places in fourth, while 16th-placed Swansea are seven points clear of the relegation zone.

It is now five defeats in six away games since Vitor Matos took charge in November, though the Swansea head coach will feel his team ought to have got something on Humberside.

Hull were in expectant mood as they returned home at the end of a rousing week which had brought impressive away victories at Southampton and Preston North End.

They were taking on a Swansea side with one of the poorest away records in the second tier this season, yet form counted for nothing in a game which could have gone either way.

The opening goal was a gift, as Hadziahmetovic curled in a free-kick from the right and Cabango bizarrely handled.

McBurnie, who Swansea tried to re-sign last summer, duly scored for the second time this season against the club where he made his name in the early years of his senior career.

Like McBurnie, Vipotnik has been one of the Championship's stand-out forwards this season, but the Slovenia international's finishing let him down for a change on a day when Swansea will feel they deserved more than they got.

Though Cullen's third Swansea goal of the season meant there was tension until the end, Slater's thumping finish ultimately proved decisive for a Hull side who remain in the hunt for a top-two place.

Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic:

"It was a very difficult game for us, especially the third game in seven days.

"We are very happy because I think that was a battle from the first minute and we used our chances. Swansea especially first half didn't use theirs, through [Zan] Vipotnik.

"Second half we dropped down, we didn't control anything. They deserved to score but we didn't lose our head after this goal.

"In the end we are very happy with these three points."

Swansea head coach Vitor Matos:

"Hull started the first half really well, aggressive. Second half was much better. I think we reacted well to a tough result [at half-time].

"We scored the goal, we [also] had chances on the first half to score. Then we were pushing to score the equaliser.

"For us it's another one where we need to find our consistency in terms of performance and efficiency."