Debutant John Bostock scored a stunning goal to help Hull City to a 2-0 victory against Swansea City on the opening day of the npower Championship season at the KC Stadium.

The on-loan Tottenham Hotspur man fired home from long-range midway through the first half.

Captain Ian Ashbee marked his return to action after a 15-month injury absence when he doubled the advantage soon after the break to seal the win.

Nolberto Solano and Bostock both made their league debuts for the Tigers as new manager Nigel Pearson selected his first competitive XI on City's return to the Championship after their historic two-year experience of the Premier League.

Solano was joined by Anthony Gardner, Kamil Zayatte and Andy Dawson in the back four which looked to protect goalkeeper Matt Duke.

Bostock played ahead of a midfield four consisting of Ashbee, Tom Cairney, Kevin Kilbane and Will Atkinson.

Richard Garcia - having spent much of the summer in South Africa as part of Australia's World Cup squad - played in the unfamiliar lone striking role.

Swansea were forced to make a late change to their line-up when Angel Rangel pulled up pre-match. Albert Serran took his place.

Both sides struggled to make any headway during a quiet opening to the game.

Both sides were willing to knock the ball around with defenders seemingly happy to sit off.

The closest either side came in the opening 15 minutes was from a Mark Gower shot for the visitors, but that went wide of the far post.

Bostock's first contribution in a City shirt saw him send a powerful low drive just wide from 25 yards.

Swansea were offered the chance to threaten when Solano's challenge sent Darren Pratley tumbling 25 yards out and earned the Peruvian a yellow card.

David Cotterill took it and his strike clipped the bar on its way over.

Bostock's earlier strike proved to be a mere sighter as he blasted the Tigers into a 23rd minute lead with an early contender for goal of the season.

Picking up possession from Solano, he produced a stylish turn before rifling the ball into the top corner of the net from long range with his left foot.

His celebration may have brought him a yellow card after he removed his shirt, but that was hardly likely to bother the 18-year-old.

Gardner could have doubled City's lead five minutes later when he met Garcia's corner with a bullet header, but it flew over the bar.

It wasn't all City and Pratley maybe should have levelled when he got on the end of Gower's cross, but a diving header was well off target.

There was real concern for Bostock when he went down in what looked like some serious pain ten minutes before half time.

He returned to the action, although he didn't look to be moving freely.

Just as it looked as though City were heading comfortably into the half time break, they were almost caught out when Cotterill robbed Zayatte of possession and fed Stephen Dobbie, but his shot was easily fielded by Duke.

Half Time: Tigers 1-0 Swansea

Swansea looked dangerous in the opening moments of the second half as they got forward in numbers, but City's defence managed to cope.

Having seen off the threat, City went up the other end and doubled their lead on 50 minutes.

From another dangerous corner-kick by Garcia, Swansea keeper Dorus de Vries flapped at the cross.

The ball fell to Ashbee at the far post, he made the hesitant Swansea defenders pay and smashed it home.

It was a great way to mark his comeback and he immediately ran over to celebrate with physio Simon Maltby.

In an attempt to change the game, Swansea threw on the more attack-minded Andrea Orlandi and striker Shefki Kuqi in a double substitution.

Persistent play from Solano down the right saw him produce a lovely cross for Cairney to attack, but he headed over from 12 yards when under pressure from Alan Tate.

Zayatte was needed to clear off the line when Pratley's header looked to be heading for the net and from the resulting rebound, Kuqi volleyed wide of the near post.

City's first change came on 70 minutes as Jamie Devitt came on for Atkinson, who looked to be tiring as the game wore on.

It was Devitt's league debut for the Club.

Bostock needed further treatment after taking a blow to the head but again he was cleared to continue, this time with a bandage around his head.

Garcia then gave way for Mark Cullen with 12 minutes remaining before Bostock left the field to a standing ovation to be replaced by Nick Barmby.

Swansea threw men forward in the closing minutes, but they didn't really trouble the home defence and City comfortably played out four minutes of added time to claim all three points.

Tigers (4-4-1-1) Matt Duke; Nolberto Solano, Kamil Zayatte, Anthony Gardner, Andy Dawson; Will Atkinson (Devitt 70), Ian Ashbee [captain], Tom Cairney, Kevin Kilbane; John Bostock (Barmby 83); Richard Garcia (Cullen 78).

Subs: Mark Oxley, Paul McShane, Seyi Olofinjana, Nick Barmby, Jamie Devitt, Mark Cullen.

Bookings: Solano 20, Bostock 24.

Swansea City (4-1-4-1) Dorus de Vries; Albert Serran, Garry Monk[captain], Ashley Williams, Alan Tate; Jordi Lopez (Pintado 71); Nathan Dyer, Darren Pratley, Mark Gower (Orlandi 59), David Cotterill; Stephen Dobbie (Kuqi 59).

Subs: David Cornell, Andrea Orlandi, Shefki Kuqi, Gorka Pintado, Neil Taylor, Cedric Van Der Gun.

Bookings: Nil

The attendance of 21,478 favourably compared with the opening fixture of the Tigers' last Championship campaign when 16,633 witnessed Plymouth Argyle's visit to KC Stadium on 11 August 2007.