Few would have given Hull City much hope of claiming three points at Sheffield United on Friday evening, let alone going to Bramall Lane and thumping the hosts 3-0.

The manner of their organised and disciplined display in the Steel City showed a ruthlessness that we've rarely seen from the Tigers this season; it was almost a performance that belied their position at the wrong end of the Championship table, only we have seen elements of it at times this season, especially since Ruben Selles took over in early December.

City had to work hard for it and like in any game of football, had to ride their luck at times, something that has evaded them on more than one occasion this season, but they earned whatever bit of luck came their way in Sheffield.

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Results also went in their favour less than 24 hours later, with Luton Town, Derby County and Portsmouth all losing to give them a two-point gap to the bottom three. Pompey lost at home to Millwall on Tuesday in their precious game in hand, and the Tigers have those three teams to play before the season comes to an end in early May. The remainder of their season is very much in their own grasp.

After a manic two months since Selles arrived, City have 10 days without a game after their FA Cup exit. But it does mean they'll have a busy end to February with the rescheduled trip to Cardiff City thrust in between games at Sunderland and at home to Plymouth Argyle.

The Tigers' frustrating elimination against Doncaster Rovers earlier this month at least presents them with a valuable two-week break and important time on the training pitch, something Selles hasn't had much of since coming into the job. It will be a key period in getting their flurry of new arrivals further acquainted with the club.

Though, should they beat the Potters then perhaps there could be a sense of feeling that the enforced break may well halt their momentum, but let's worry about that if a third home win of the season can be claimed.

Selles has now won four of his 11 games in charge. The challenge now is to make sure the win on Friday night was not a one-off because it was a benchmark performance, but it has to become the norm rather than the exception. City showed they have the quality to thump one of the division's top teams, who had only lost once at home in 13, conceding just five goals before that.

They've also gone toe-to-toe with Leeds United at home and won at Blackburn Rovers when they were in the thick of the play-offs, and but for an error, could have got a point off Middlesbrough, and while we're at it, should never have lost to QPR.

Essentially, what we're saying is that Selles' side have proven in one-off games that they can mix it with anyone. What they must do now is find that consistency and start doing it with greater regularity rather than every other game or two. QPR managed to do it and so have Cardiff City, teams that certainly don't have better squads than the Tigers, which looks so much better as we head towards the final days of the transfer window.

Stoke City are next up at the MKM Stadium this weekend. Victory against the Potters would move City three points away from them while taking an important step in sorting out their dreadful home record this term.

City have lost their last three at home to the Potters, who are without a league win under Mark Robins (three draws, one defeat) following their goalless draw with Oxford United on Saturday. But it presents Selles with an opportunity to do something he's not yet been able to do and that's win back-to-back games.

They simply have to take advantage of Derby, Portsmouth, and Luton's slip-ups and get themselves on a run of form, especially with away games at Burnley and Sunderland coming up before the month is out.

There has to come a point in the final 17 games where City put some results together. Three wins in six is a good start, two wins in three over the past week is a good return for a team not used to winning football matches. But this weekend is a grand opportunity to back up Friday's fabulous night out in Sheffield; their season must really start now.