Hull 0 Aston Villa 1:A late Kamil Zayatte own goal saw Aston Villa snatch a barely-deserved victory at the KC Stadium to move above Arsenal and into fourth place in the Premier League.
Martin O'Neill's side had been frustrated throughout a drab encounter until Zayatte turned in Ashley Young's cross in the 88th minute.
In a dramatic conclusion, Hull thought they had been awarded a penalty but referee Steve Bennett changed his mind following consultation with his assistant.
Hull boss Phil Brown reacted to his side's humiliating defeat at Manchester City by ringing the changes.
Brown, who publicly lambasted his players at half-time at Eastlands, retained only six players from the side thrashed 5-1 on St Stephen's Day.
Brazilian star Geovanni and Marlon King, with 11 goals between them this season, were the biggest casualties while George Boateng, Dean Windass and Dean Marney were also dropped.
Sam Ricketts, Nick Barmby, Richard Garcia, Peter Halmosi and Daniel Cousin were all drafted in.
Villa were unchanged from the side which drew 2-2 with Arsenal last time out.
Hull had a goal disallowed with five minutes gone after an error by Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
The American spilled the ball under pressure from Barmby and makeshift right-back Nigel Reo-Coker turned it in as he struggled to clear but Bennett blew for an infringement.
Villa, in fine form after seven games unbeaten, responded by winning two corners in quick succession but Gareth Barry put their first decent chance over.
Bernard Mendy whipped in a dangerous cross for Halmosi as Hull attacked again but the Hungarian, starting for the first time in three months, could not make contact.
Hull continued to press and Mendy was marginally given offside after another quick run down the right.
Curtis Davies then headed unconvincingly wide of his own goal after a testing cross from Hull captain Ian Ashbee.
Hull pushed again just before the break but Friedel was reprieved after another error when Mendy was adjudged to have fouled the former Blackburn man.
Gareth Barry became the first to work either goalkeeper in some time after 64 minutes but his tame shot barely tested former Villa trainee Boaz Myhill.
King came off the bench to replace Cousin with 21 minutes remaining and Hull enjoyed a good spell of pressure.
Yet still they could not test Friedel with Ashbee shooting well over and Barmby failing to connect with a Ricketts cross.
The Tigers were caught on the counter-attack, however, as Villa snatched a late winner.
Ashley Young broke clear down the right and his stinging cross that Zayatte turned into his own net with Agbonlohor ready to pounce.
There was late drama as Hull were awarded a penalty in the final seconds only for Bennett to change his mind following consultation with his assistant.
Bennett thought Ashley Young had handled an Ashbee header on the line but replays backed up the assistant, with the ball having hit the bar.
