Hull City took a big step towards the Championship play-off final with a convincing victory at Derby County in the first leg of their semi-final.

Abel Hernandez scored from 25 yards and Moses Odubajo's effort deflected in off Derby's Jason Shackell as the Tigers took control before half-time.

Andy Robertson added a third on the counter-attack in second-half stoppage time to all-but seal the tie.

The second leg will take place at Hull's KCOM Stadium on Tuesday.

Derby were the only team to win a Championship game at Hull during the regular season, and must be victorious there again to stand any chance of reaching the play-off final at Wembley on 28 May.

• Hull's 3-0 win at Derby as it happened

Derby's day to forget

The Rams had hoped to avoid more play-off misery, having lost in the last minute of the 2014 Wembley final and then missed out on a top-six spot on the final day of the season a year later.

But a tepid display in the home leg of their semi-final, against a Hull team they completed a league double over in 2015-16, left them with little chance of reaching the final.

For all of their early pressure, Derby were unable to test Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic - a late addition to the starting line-up after Allan McGregor suffered a back injury in training on Thursday.

Bradley Johnson gave away possession in the build-up to Hull's first goal, while the second came with a degree of poor fortune as goalkeeper Scott Carson was powerless to keep out Odubajo's hugely deflected shot five minutes before half-time.

Jacob Butterfield's tame shot from distance, Derby's first effort on target with 10 minutes remaining, was greeted by ironic cheers from the home supporters, who booed loudly as Robertson's excellent finish almost put the outcome of the semi-final beyond doubt.

Hernandez hits form

Hull's top scorer Hernandez scored his 22nd goal of the season to put his side ahead in their semi-final first leg.

The Uruguay international went through a lean spell, going nine appearances without a goal between February and April, but has returned to form in recent weeks.

Four goals in his last five outings of the regular season helped the Tigers to a finishing position of fourth in the table, and the 25-year-old striker netted for his fourth game in succession to take the Tigers closer to an immediate return to the Premier League following relegation last term.

Analysis

Steve Claridge, ex-Leicester striker on BSports Radio 5 live

"I am absolutely stunned - I thought this was going to be a close tie. Everything Hull have done has worked perfectly, everything Derby have done has just not worked.

"Hull are the team that have looked the more dangerous going forward. At 3-0 you fear for Derby in the second leg, there is nothing for them to play for."