Bottom-of-the-table Blackpool put up a spirited fight against a Tigers side desperately looking for win after last week's 4-0 hammering at the hands of Huddersfield.
City dominated much of the game but they missed a hatful of clear chances which could so very nearly have cost them points against a better side on the day.
Both teams started brightly enough and only numerous corners separated the visitors in a closely fought opening 10 minutes.
However, City took an early lead less than a quarter of an hour in when a clever knock down from Ryan France found Stuart Green 10 yards out and he did well to control and shoot as the 'Pool defence simply stood and watched.
Four minutes later Stuart Elliott robbed a defender 30 yards and out and completed a perfect pass to Danny Allsopp who shot inches wide with only Lee Jones to beat.
On 23 minutes Allsop again exploited poor defending, this time from Mike Flynn, who lost the ball in a central position 25 yards out but the impressive Jones somehow flung out his left arm to save.
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Hull suffered a blow as play-maker Nick Barmby was injured shortly before the half hour mark and he was duly replaced by Jon Walters.
Far from disrupting the hosts, seconds later, Green forced another good save from Jones after he looked certain to score in the area.
Hull's hold on the game showed no signs of easing and Walters headed over after a period of neat passing by City, especially France, who had an impressive game on the right.
But out of the blue, Scott Taylor stunned City with unstoppable left-footed volley after Joseph had failed to clear.
For all their efforts, City had surrendered the lead.
The Seasiders restarted the game buoyed by the fact they were on level terms and went on to have their best spell of the game. But in the 58th minute, their poor defence let them down again and when the ball fell to Elliott 20 yards out, he hammered it home decisively.
The game then petered out as Hull looked content to hold on to their lead.
Scott Taylor and Michael Flynn reminded the home side that the Seasiders were still in with a shout but, despite showing complacency late on, the Tigers should have stretched their lead before breathing a sigh of relief at the final whistle.