The Tigers found themselves 3-0 ahead by the 47th minute and Callum Saunders & Ryan Wintle goals looked like paving the way for a dramatic late equaliser, but the visitors held on for all three points.

Tall, powerful Hull striker Jon Edwards grabbed the first goal of the game, breaking into the box & blasting a rocket past Dave Richards at the near post high into the roof of the net on 13 minutes.

Hull had the opportunity to double their advantage on 34 minutes from the penalty spot when James Yates fouled, but Dave Richards saved Ben Hinchliffe's penalty - diving to his right to palm away the effort.

Richards was the hero four minutes later too, fantastically thwarting Hinchliffe's pin-point header. But Hull weren't to be denied for long.

Four minutes before the interval, Edwards grabbed his second of the game, arriving at the back post to thump his powerful header past a helpless Richards.

Two became 3-0 two minutes into the second period, Hinchliffe making it third time lucky, firing low into the far corner from the edge of the box.

Crewe summoned their inner strength and pulled a goal back through Saunders, racing onto a ball & slotting past the keeper.

Saunders thought he had claimed his & Crewe's second when he stabbed in at the back post, but the linesman ruled the effort out for offside.

Wintle bundled in the second from a corner on 66 minutes to set-up a thrilling finale, but Saunders fluffed his lines with the goal at his mercy with the keeper on the deck as the visitors held on for the points.

Crewe: Richards, Bullock, Poscha, Wilkinson, Yates, Finney, Lowery, Wintle, Dale (Pickering), Kirk (Reilly), Saunders