Half-time substitute Adama Traore broke the deadlock to put the Tigers ahead with 20 minutes left when his long-range strike bounced into the bottom left-hand corner.

The visitors almost grabbed an equaliser when Tom Bradshaw had a close-range effort blocked and Billy Mitchell fired narrowly wide on the rebound, while Hull goalkeeper Karl Darlow palmed away a curling Flemming shot in the closing stages.

A first win in six outings puts Liam Rosenior's men 16th and 11 points clear of the relegation zone with five games of the campaign remaining, while fifth-placed Millwall failed to score for the fourth straight game.

That four-match winless run is the south-east Londoners' worst run of form since August and has seen them reeled in by the pack chasing a place in the top six.

Seventh-placed Preston are now level on points with Millwall and only outside of the play-off places on goal difference, but the Lilywhites must travel to The Den on Saturday.

Quality Traore strike the difference

Ozan Tufan had scored twice as Hull drew 4-4 at Sunderland on Friday and the Turkey international headed over at the back post in the opening stages.

The visitors then began to carve out openings, with Darlow denying Burke before the winger clattered the woodwork on the half-hour mark.

Bradshaw, Shaun Hutchinson and Jake Cooper also went close for the Lions, prompting Rosenior to made a triple change at the break when he introduced Callum Elder, Ryan Longman and Traore.

Longman sent a left-footed effort narrowly wide 10 minutes into the second half but the game was drifting when Mali international Traore opened the scoring with his low left-footed effort from about 25 yards out.

The Lions were unable to find a way past Darlow but, with games against Preston and Birmingham before facing relegation-threatened pair Blackpool and Wigan, they still have their destiny in their own hands.