Goals from Ahmed Elmohamady and Nikica Jelavic have given Hull City a 2-0 half-time lead over Everton in their New Year's Day game at the KC Stadium.

Everton squandered a good opportunity to take the lead in the second minute as Arouna Kone couldn't pick out a teammate after good approach play from Muhamed Besic.

Hull responded positively though, and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when Abel Hernandez was bundled over, and then Joel Robles had to be alert to parry away a shot from the Uruguayan just moments later.

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Hernandez was then denied by a Robles save once more, but shortly after the half-hour mark Hull went ahead as Elmohamady crept in front of Leighton Baines from Liam Rosenior's cross and glanced a header into the back of the net.

Two minutes before the break, Jelavic netted against his former club with a clinical finish after being set free behind the Everton defence to give the hosts a two-goal cushion.