On the back of three indifferent performances, Blackburn made the journey to Cardiff City at the weekend knowing that a victory mattered more than an improved display.
Nevertheless, Tony Mowbray would have been delighted with both returns, Rovers claiming a 1-0 win against the Bluebirds and showing their character in keeping a clean sheet even when down to 10 men.
Blackburn have gone 10 matches unbeaten in the Championship, dropping just four points during that period, and Mowbray will be even more satisfied with a seventh clean sheet being posted.
With neither of the top two to play until March, there is a window of opportunity for Rovers to gain an advantage in the race for automatic promotion, even if three of their next four games are away from Ewood Park.
Top goalscorer Ben Brereton Diaz has gone two Championship matches without finding the back of the net, his longest barren spell since the middle of October.
As far as Hull are concerned, this is one of the few fixtures that they would not have wanted as they look to end a winless streak which has lasted since the end of November.
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The Tigers had looked well on course to ease away from the bottom three, but they are now without a win in six and have lost four successive games in all competitions.
Given the excitement regarding a takeover, the 2-0 defeat at home to Stoke City on Sunday was a major letdown, and Hull are now only nine points above bottom spot with Derby County having recently put together a strong run of form.
Although Grant McCann will not necessarily be concerned at this stage, failure to collect any points from a double-header of Blackburn and second-placed Bournemouth would likely leave Hull further in trouble
