Hull City's chances of Premier League survival were dealt a severe blow on Saturday with a 2-0 defeat away to Tottenham Hotspur.

Following a goalless first half, the hosts took the lead with 54 minutes played when Nacer Chadli rounded goalkeeper Steve Harper before slotting in.

Spurs then sealed the points just seven minutes later as Danny Rose smashed the ball home after being picked out by Ryan Mason.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action between the two sides at White Hart Lane.

Match statistics

TOTTENHAM
Shots: 10
On target: 3
Possession: 56%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 10

HULL
Shots: 14
On target: 2
Possession: 44%
Corners: 8
Fouls: 6

Was the result fair?

Hull were the better side for large spells of the game, but their inability to find the net meant that Spurs always had a chance to seize control. Once the hosts took the lead through Nacer Chadli at the start of the second half it looked like there was only going to be one winner.

Tottenham's performance

It was an all-too-familiar display from Spurs in the first half as they struggled to find their rhythm. Mauricio Pochettino's side were forced to defend and soak up plenty of Hull pressure while being limited to the occasional counter-attack. Following an uninspiring opening 45 minutes, it was a different story when they took the lead 10 minutes into the second half. From that point on Tottenham played with more freedom, attacking invention and dynamism. Their new-found cavalier spirit saw them rewarded with a second goal and they could have had even more after that. After failing to win any of their previous three games, this result means that they remain on course for Europa League qualification heading into the final weekend of the season.

Hull's performance

The Tigers looked far removed from a team battling to avoid relegation during the first half. Steve Bruce's men took the game to Spurs and carved out a handful of decent chances thanks to their brave attacking play. However, some poor finishing stopped them from taking what would have been a deserved lead going into the second half. It was more of the same after the restart, but their world began to cave in when Tottenham made it 1-0. Hull went into their shells after that and found it difficult to contain their rampant opponents. They still created the odd opportunity during the final 30 minutes or so, though by that point it was beginning to look like a lost cause. While a miraculous escape is still possible, it is starting to look as if they are destined for the Championship.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Ryan Mason: On an afternoon that was lacking impressive individual performances, Ryan Mason stood out in the centre of Tottenham's midfield. The youngster was full of energy throughout, while his assist for Danny Rose's goal was sublime.

Biggest gaffe

Abel Hernandez had a glorious chance to hand Hull a lifeline in the second half when the ball dropped to him inside the box, but the substitute's effort was straight at Hugo Lloris. A bit more composure and the visitors could have had something to work with during the final 20 minutes.

Referee performance

Anthony Taylor enjoyed a solid 90 minutes as he allowed the game to flow at an entertaining pace. His biggest call came towards the end of the match when he could have easily shown Danny Rose a second yellow card for scuffling with David Meyler. Taylor instead opted to let the incident slide.

What next?

Tottenham: Spurs continue their quest for Europa League qualification on May 24 when they face Everton at Goodison Park.

Hull: The Tigers must beat Manchester United at the KC Stadium on May 24 if they want to give themselves a chance of staying in the Premier League.