A brace from Fabio Carvalho helped Hull consign Cardiff to a second straight home defeat, winning 3-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.

Two well-taken finishes by the Liverpool loanee, along with a break-away goal from former Bluebird Jaden Philogene was enough to down Erol Bulut’s men and put their play-off hopes to bed.

Karlan Grant’s near-post finish on the hour mark gave Cardiff some hope after Carvalho’s first half double, but Philogene was released by Seri just a couple of minutes later to make it 3-1 and secure the result.

After a slow start in the sun, Cardiff got into their rhythm.

Jamilu Collins, always willing to get forward, was played in behind on the overlap by David Turnbull but took the ball a touch wide and had his powerful shot beaten away by Ryan Allsop in the Hull net.

The home side were content to try and win the ball in midfield and then feed Yakou Meite early. The Ivorian forward had an excellent game, putting Alfie Jones under serious pressure with every ball forward.

And it was through Meite that Cardiff had their best chance of the opening minutes. Karlan Grant’s around-the-corner ball was well gathered by Meite, who prodded the ball to Manolis Siopis.

The Greek midfielder played an early ball to Bowler who beat his man but his low cross found a Hull defender rather than a Cardiff attacker.

The away side rallied though, and were the first to score. First Abdulkadir Omur’s two efforts were saved by Ethan Horvath, then, from a corner, Liverpool loanee, Carvalho fired in a volley to open the scoring for the visitors.

It was a well-struck effort that went through three home defenders and past a helpless Horvath.

The goal gave the visitors confidence and it showed. A clever short corner routine found Jean Michael Seri unmarked on the edge of the box but he could only drag his shot wide.

Soon enough Carvalho had doubled the lead for Hull.

A lovely move started by the Portuguese U21 international’s flick around-the-corner to Omur who found Ozan Tufan. The Turkish international’s through ball reached the on-rushing Carvalho on the penalty spot and he swept home first time.

Cardiff, chasing the game in the second half, fashioned some decent openings before Grant’s sweet strike dragged his side back into the game. The West Bromwich Albion loanee cut inside from the left wing and fired a low scudder of an effort past Allsop and into the net.

The Ninian Stand erupted and suddenly Cardiff had a way back into the game.

But no sooner had the home side been given a lifeline, than Hull hit back through former Cardiff winger Jaden Philogene.

The England U21 international cut a peripheral figure out on the left wing for much of the match but was able to race through and calmly slot the ball beyond Horvath.

Cardiff were rocked and Hull almost put the game to bed, Omur’s jinking run and strike curling onto the far post past Horvath’s despairing dive.

Manager Erol Bulut shuffled his pack, bringing on Wales captain Aaron Ramsey and Joel Wilson-Esbrand. Wilson-Esbrand’s afternoon only lasted fifteen minutes, as he picked up a suspected hamstring injury and was forced off with Ollie Tanner the replacement.

Grant, Cardiff’s biggest threat, was always a willing runner in behind and, without Hull skipper Jacob Greaves’ intervention, would have scored a carbon copy of his earlier goal.

With Cardiff throwing men forward in search of two late goals, Philogene went through again but this time got his finish all wrong, putting the ball high and wide.

As the visiting fans danced, buoyed by their own enhanced chances of a play-off place, Cardiff will have to regroup if they want to end this season on a high.

Cardiff City: Ethan Horvath; Perry NG, Dimitrios Goutas, Nat Phillips, Jamilu Collins; Joe Ralls (c), Manolis Siopis Karlan Grant, Josh Bowler (Ramsey 58′); David Turnbull (Wilson-Esbrand 58′, Ollie Tanner 75′), Yakou Meite (Diedhiou 72′).

Substitutes not used: Turner, Romeo, J. Colwill, Ashford, Robinson.

Hull City: Ryan Allsop; Regan Slater, Jacob Greaves (c), Alfie Jones, Matty Jacob; Jean Michael Seri, Tyler Morton (Christie 61′), Jaden Philogene, Abdulkadir Omur (McLoughlin 75′); Ozan Tufan (Zaoury 75′), Fabio Carvalho (Sharp 86′).

Substitutes not used: Pandur, Docherty, Ohio, Traore, Connolly.