Despite looming problems off the pitch, Portsmouth continued their unbeaten run in the Championship with a 2-1 away victory against a dissapointing Hull side at the KC stadium.
Portsmouth's David Nugent opened the scoring on the stroke of half time with Greg Halford doubling the visitors lead with a free-kick just after the break. The tigers grabbed one back through Nick Barmby on the hour mark but Steve Cotterill's men held out to make it three wins on the bounce for Pompey.
Robert Koren tried his luck early on for the Tigers but his speculative right footed effort was comfortably saved by keeper Jamie Ashdown.
Barmby then had a chance for the home side as youngster Jamie Devitt swung in a right footed cross onto the head of the Hull veteran but his glancing header from 6 yards was again comfortably saved by Ashdown.
Daniel Ayala was next to try his luck for the tigers but the Liverpool loanee's right footed volley flew just over the cross bar from 18 yards.
The visitors nearly found themselves in front just before the half hour mark as Nugent picked up the ball in the Hull half and rifled a shot against the cross-bar from 20 yards.
The ex-Preston forward then had a chance from the following corner but he sent his header wide of the mark from close range.
Devitt should have had Hull in the lead on the stroke of half time as Rowan Vine found the youngster with a curling cross from the right but the tigers midfielder could only direct his header wide of the mark from close range.
John Utaka nearly scored for Portsmouth moments later but his header was saved by unexpectanat keeper Matt Duke.
The visitors then did take the lead in first half injury time as Utaka slipped in Nugent just inside the Hull half and despite mass calls of offside from the home fans Nugent was allowed to race through and register his foruth goal of the campaign.
Portsmouth doubled their lead moments after the re-start as a Daniel Ayala foul on Dave Kitson allowed Wolves loanee Halford to step up and fire home a right-footed free-kick from 20 yards.
Nugent nearly made in 3-0 just before the hour mark but his turn and shot from inside the box flew up and over the Hull cross bar.
Hull were then given a life line as a deep cross from Koren was converted by Barmby at the back post, with a neat a header into the roof of the net, to register the 101st goal of his career.
Despite continued pressure for the remainder of the half, Hull were unable to create any real chances making it five games without a win for Nigel Pearson's men.