Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's first goal for Hull City helped the Tigers to a much-needed victory against Wigan Athletic at the KC Stadium on a blusterty Saturday afternoon.

The Dutch striker opened the scoring on the hour before Geovanni struck eight minutes later.

Wigan pulled one back with three minutes to go, but City held out for a 2-1 win to move out of the bottom three.

As expected, new captain Nick Barmby came into the starting line-up along with Kamil Zayatte and Dean Marney.

George Boateng, Liam Cooper and Kamel Ghilas were the men to make way.

Youngster Tom Cairney was handed a place on the bench in the Premier League for the first time.

Wigan included former City loanee Marlon King on the bench.

With a 4-1-4-1 formation, Zayatte played the anchor role in midfield.

Kevin Kilbane, who joined City from the Latics in January, moved alongside Ibrahima Sonko in the middle of defence.

Barmby started on the right of midfield with Vennegoor of Hesselink the lone front man.

City should have had a penalty as early as the second minute.

Stephen Hunt's blind lob into the middle forced goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to back-track and flick the ball away.

It dropped to Barmby, whose cross-cum-shot clearly struck the hand of a defender, but referee Mark Clattenburg didn't point to the spot.

It was bright start from City.

Geovanni's ball found Marney in space in the ninth minute and his shot brought a save out of Kirkland.

Hunt's long diagonal ball then found Barmby in the box, but under pressure from Maynor Figueroa, the captain could only put a first time shot wide.

Wigan began to settle and Mohamed Diame produced a shot that Boaz Myhill had to save.

When the ball returned to the other end of the field, Geovanni's 30-yarder went just over.

The visitors were starting to look more of a threat and Jason Scotland's turn and shot went only inches wide.

Persistent play from Hunt down the left saw the ball land at the feet of Geovanni on 24 minutes and his cross was glanced just wide by the head of Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Charles N'Zogbia was shown the first yellow card of the game after a late foul on Andy Dawson.

Half Time: Tigers 0-0 Wigan

It was a slow start to the second half with City failing to make the most of a couple of corners.

However, from a corner on the hour the Tigers took the lead.

Marney's ball in didn't appear to be the best, but Vennegoor of Hesselink made a run to meet it at the near post and head home past Kirkland.

Wigan looked to respond through Scotland, but he dragged a shot wide from 20 yards.

City then made a change as Ghilas replaced Barmby on the right with Geovanni handed the captain's armband.

The Tigers doubled their lead on 68 minutes.

Zayatte's burst down the right took him to the byeline and when he cut the ball back, Geovanni was on hand to volley home his fourth goal of the season.

With Wigan pushing forward to try and get back into the game, there were gaps for City to exploit and Marney saw his effort from 18 yards saved by Kirkland.

City's second change with eight minutes to go saw Seyi Olofinjana replace Zayatte.

Wigan pulled a goal back with three minutes to go.

Myhill did well to save at his near post but the ball fell for substitute Scott Sinclair, whose header was tantalisingly out of the reach of the City keeper as it found the back of the net.

The goal lifted Wigan as City suddenly looked nervy.

Diame went close, but his effort flew over the bar.

Somehow, the referee found five minutes of time to add on which saw King enter the action for Wigan and Steven Mouyokolo replace Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Wigan's Jordi Gomez was also booked for diving as he tried to win a penalty.

Tigers (4-1-4-1) Boaz Myhill; Paul McShane, Ibrahima Sonko, Kevin Kilbane, Andy Dawson;  Kamil Zayatte (Olofinjana 82); Nick Barmby [captain] (Ghilas 64), Dean Marney, Geovanni, Stephen Hunt; Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Mouyokolo 90).

Subs: Matt Duke, Steven Mouyokolo, Seyi Olofinjana, Tom Cairney, Peter Halmosi, Kamel Ghilas, Jozy Altidore.

Bookings: Nil

Wigan Athletic (4-3-3) Chris Kirkland; Mario Melchiot [captain], Titus Bramble, Emmerson Boyce, Maynor Figueroa; Mohamed Diame, Hendry Thomas (King 90) Paul Scharner (Gomez 66); Jason Scotland, Hugo Rodallega, Charles N'Zogbia (Sinclair 84),

Subs: Mike Pollitt, Won Hee Cho, Jason Koumas, Jordi Gomez, Scott Sinclair, Olivier Kapo, Marlon King.

Bookings: N'Zogbia 30, Gomez 90.