Liam Rosenior said he “won’t get carried away” after Hull returned to the play-off fray with a 3-1 win at Stoke.
First-half goals from Aaron Connolly – his fifth of the season – and Adama Traore handed the Tigers control just after the half-hour mark.
And the hosts’ miserable afternoon was compounded when Regan Slater’s strike deflected off Lynden Gooch and looped into his own net.
The returning Andre Vidigal notched a Potters consolation late on, but it was too little, too late as their winless run stretched to five league games.
Hull coasted to a seventh game unbeaten as they clinched a third successive away win in the Championship for the first time since 2013.
“I’m really happy,” said Rosenior, who marked the 50th game of his managerial career with victory.
“It always feels good when you win away from home and more pleasing than just the win was the performance.
“Everyone was excellent; we showed energy and confidence in the way that we played in possession and we were difficult to break down.
“The signs are really good, but the only stat that matters to me is where we finish at the end of the season.
“It’s brilliant to get the win but it has to be towards something so I won’t get carried away.
“We’re in a good place; we don’t need to focus on the results because they come as a product of our performances and they’ve been consistent this season.”
Goal-scorer Connolly and team-mate Jean Michael Seri clashed at half-time, but Rosenior paid tribute to their attitudes.
He added: “They were arguing and they want to win. I’ve been asking for that from them for the whole year that I’ve been here.
“You need to be demanding with each other; they argued and then they hugged and made up and they’re best mates again.
“You need to fall out with each other at times because it makes you better and makes you successful; it’s perfect and that’s the mentality I want.”
Meanwhile, it was another disappointing afternoon for Stoke as they slumped closer to the relegation zone.
“I think the best team won. It’s the poorest we’ve been tactically since I’ve been here,” boss Alex Neil admitted.
“You look at the game today and think either our set-up wasn’t good enough or we didn’t commit to it or a combination of both.
“We lacked belief in doing it today and when you lack belief it looks a bit of a dog’s dinner.
“We showed a lack of confidence – which is the first time I’ve seen that from them this season – so that was disappointing.
“I don’t ever make any qualms with what fans want to do or if they want to boo or voice their frustration.
“They’re here to support their team and see their team win; if they don’t win, particularly in modern football, it’s either one extreme or the other.
“If you win a game, you’re going up. If you lose a game, you’re getting relegated, so that’s the nature of football now.
“How they voice their opinion, I don’t have any views on it whatsoever; I just want to get the team performing well and trying to win.
“For us, we need that one win that’s going to lift some of the lads and then hopefully we can put a decent run together.”
'Super simple' – Lille president rules out January exit for Jonathan David
Lille president Olivier Letang has categorically ruled out a January exit for forward Jonathan David amid links with a number of European clubs.
David is out of contract at the end of the season and has been touted as a target for the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona.
Speaking this week, the Canada international named Barcelona as his "dream" club but suggested he would prefer not to leave Lille mid-season.
And in an interview with After Foot RMC, Letang confirmed no bids have yet been tabled ahead of the January window.
"We are not going to sell him in January, and we have not received any offer for him," he said.
"Jonathan's situation is super simple. We are very happy to have him with us.
"Last season he had one more year left on his contract. We were trying to qualify for the Champions League.
"You have a guy who scores 20 to 25 goals a season. We had no obligation to sell him."
David is into his fifth season with Lille and has scored 97 goals in 202 games for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions while assisting a further 18.
Seven of those goals have arrived in 11 appearances this term, including in Champions League games against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
The 24-year-old's best league season with Lille saw him score 24 goals in 2022-23, while he has netted 19, 15 and 13 in the other full campaigns.
Lille chief Letang reiterated that David has been offered a new deal to stay on at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but selling him has never been an option.
"He is a player who scores between 20 and 25 goals and helps us qualify for the Champions League," he said.
"Plus, Jonathan loves Lille, which is his club. Our position was very clear from the beginning – we think of the athlete.
"Obviously, he already has an offer that is in his hands, the ball is in his court."
Guardiola suggests Man City's recent form played part in signing new contract
Pep Guardiola suggested Manchester City's run of four successive defeats was part of the reason for his contract extension.
The 53-year-old recently signed a two-year deal, which will run out in 2027, ending months of speculation about his future after his contract had been due to run out at the end of the campaign.
Following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton before the international break, Guardiola's side have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career.
"I felt I could not leave now. Maybe the four defeats was why," he told the club's website.
"I think we deserve, after four defeats in a row, to bounce back and try to turn the situation. I think we deserve to be here. I am not arrogant to say, but it's the truth."
Guardiola has led Manchester City to 18 major trophies during his nine-year stint at the club and posted a 72% win ratio.
He added that he was determined to help the club get back to a state where they are "more stable and more consistent".
"We have to recover that because right now we don't have it and that's the target we have to do," he said.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added: "Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep's journey with Manchester City will continue, allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game.
"His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club, and the English game at large."
Leicester's Fatawu ruled out for rest of season with ACL injury
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper confirmed Abdul Fatawu will miss the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) while playing for Ghana against Angola during the international break.
Fatawu has featured in all 11 of Leicester's Premier League matches so far this season and has registered two assists.
No Leicester player has attempted (61) or completed (29) more dribbles than him, while his 30 crosses is also a team-high in the top-flight this season.
"It's not good, it's a serious injury," said Cooper ahead of their match against Chelsea on Saturday.
"It's a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.
"Albeit, it can be quite common in sport, and in particular football, but it's still a serious injury.
"For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.
"He's obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.
"It's only a pause, and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which, with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case."
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