Abel Hernandez hits hat-trick as Hull hammer sorry Charlton
Abel Hernandez spoiled Jose Riga's return as Charlton manager with a first-half hat-trick as a rampant Hull recorded an emphatic 6-0 victory at the KC Stadium.
Robert Snodgrass, Mo Diame and Isaac Hayden were also on target for the Tigers, who moved just two points behind Sky Bet Championship leaders Middlesbrough after they were beaten by Bristol City.
Charlton remain second from bottom after a second humiliating defeat in four days, which has not only cost their previous manager his job but also seen their survival hopes and poor goal difference suffer serious damage.
Riga, who first managed Charlton between March and May of 2014, came back to replace interim manager Karel Fraeye who was sacked by owner Roland Duchatelet after the 5-0 defeat at Huddersfield on Tuesday.
But any hopes Riga had of a good start ended when Hull took the lead after nine minutes.
Hernandez won the ball by charging down Rhys Williams and running clear before sliding it in off the far post.
It was the Uruguayan striker's 12th league goal of the season and he added his next after 16 minutes.
Fed by a Sam Clucas pass, Hernandez ran to the edge of the Charlton area and curled his shot into the top right corner of goal.
He was denied a third when his volley into the ground was punched away by Stephen Henderson.
When Charlton did get forward they lacked a final killer touch, as Callum Harriott showed with his weak shot with almost half an hour gone.
Hull made it 3-0 with a fine goal with 33 minutes gone as Clucas headed the ball on to Hernandez and when he laid the ball back, Clucas passed out wide to Snodgrass.
He took his time before cutting in on his left foot and curling the ball from the corner of the 18-yard area into the opposite top corner of the goal.
Hernandez, watched by several members of his family, completed his hat-trick when he side-footed the ball home from close range six minutes before half-time.
Clucas passed to Andy Robertson who cut the ball back to provide Hernandez with the sort of easy finish he thrives on, taking his personal tally to 14 goals in the Championship this season.
There was no let-up for Charlton after the break but Henderson got down well to stop Hernandez's shot from the edge of the area.
Hull's fifth goal came in the 58th minute with a cool finish from Diame. After Hull had worked the ball across the Charlton area Diame curled it high into the far corner.
Hayden scored Hull's sixth with 10 minutes remaining when his shot from the edge of the area deflected off Johnnie Jackson and past a wrong-footed Henderson.
Hull did not ease up but the comfort with which they continued to pass the ball around against impotent opponents said everything about the contrasting positions in the table of the two teams.
Source: PA
