A stunning second-half quadruple from Leon Clarke saw Sheffield United move clear in second place in the Championship.
With leaders Wolves having won on Friday, Cardiff missed the chance to keep pace as they went down to Bristol City, but there were no slip-ups from the Blades.
A cracker from Kamil Grosicki put Hull in front against Chris Wilder's men, but Clarke struck four times in 30 minutes for a comprehensive 4-1 win.
Earlier, Aden Flint's 66th-minute winner had allowed Bristol City to edge out Cardiff in a thrilling clash.
Callum O'Dowda put Lee Johnson's in-form City ahead after 20 minutes, but Omar Bogle replied four minutes before the break.
Bogle saw red for a late challenge on Marlon Pack in the second half, and not long afterwards Flint sealed a 2-1 win.
Wolves lead the way on 35 points, with Sheffield United on 33 and Cardiff on 31.
Managerless Sunderland, who play Middlesbrough on Sunday, are bottom after results went against them.
Bolton beat Norwich 2-1 thanks to goals from Gary Madine and Adam Armstrong -- Josh Murphy replied -- while Burton won 1-0 at Millwall, with Marvin Sordell on target.
In-form Brentford continued their climb with a 3-1 win over Leeds on a night both goalkeepers will want to forget.
The Bees, for whom Ollie Watkins missed a penalty, moved to within three points of the play-offs thanks to goals from Neal Maupay, Yoann Barbet and Ryan Woods, with the Leeds goal coming from from Ezgjan Alioski.
Maupay headed home after Leeds' Andy Lonergan had dropped a cross but Alioski equalised after a similar error from Brentford's Dan Bentley. Five minutes from the end, Barbet's low angled free kick restored the lead, and Woods wrapped it up in added time.
Birmingham's struggles continued as they were beaten 2-0 at Barnsley, Tom Bradshaw and Zeke Fryers on target.
Reading thumped Derby 4-2 at Pride Park, stunning the in-form hosts.
Liam Moore got them off to a fine start after nine minutes and Sone Aluko made it two soon afterwards.
The goals kept coming thanks to Roy Beerens (54), and although Jonny Russell pulled one back (71), Mo Barrow added a fourth (75). Chris Martin's goal was a late consolation.
Sheffield Wednesday shocked in-form Aston Villa with a 2-1 win in the Midlands.
Adam Reach's first-minute stunner put Wednesday on their way and, with John Terry going off injured for Villa, Jordan Rhodes doubled the lead before Chris Samba scored with just seconds left.
Nottingham Forest had far too much for QPR, beating them 4-0 at the City Ground.
The game was firmly under the Reds' control by the break thanks to goals from Tyler Walker (13) and Kieran Dowall (20) before Barrie McKay added a third in the second half.
Walker, the son of Forest great Des, made it four late on.
Ipswich inflicted a 3-0 defeat on Preston at Portman Road thanks to goals from Martyn Waghorn, David McGoldrick and Bersant Celina.