Substitute Robert Snodgrass got a goal and an assist to help Hull to their first victory since August, Snodgrass slotted home to cancel out Charlie Austin's early penalty, then Michael Dawson headed home from a Snodgrass cross to give the Tigers the three points.
Hull didn't make a single change to the side that lost 1-0 to Watford last time out, Dieumerci Mbokani was back on the bench alongside Snodgrass. Southampton made a couple of changes to the side that beat Inter Milan 2-0 on Thursday, captain Jose Fonte was the pick of the names to rejoin the starting 11.
The game began with a minute silence to remember those who fought in the First World War and the KCOM Stadium erupted with noise at kick-off with Hull desperate with a win, the home sidegave away a sloppy early penalty, Yoshida clipped by Davies and Austin scored his fifth goal of the season, smashing the penalty down the middle with Scott David Marshall diving left and it was 1-0 to the Saints after five minutes.
It got worse for the Tigers when Abel Hernandez instantly signalled to the bench when he picked up a muscle injury and with just ten minutes gone Mbokani entered the field. The Tigers first chance of the game came 20 minutes in when Sam Clucas dragged a shot wide of Fraser Forster's near post.
It got worse for Hull, ex-Manchester United forward Will Keane being forced off with what looked like a serious knee injury, the returning Snodgrass coming on for the young striker forcing Hull to change to a 4-4-1-1 formation, Maguire coming into the midfield.
Hull got a bit more of the ball with the formation change, but failed to create any real chances with Southampton containing Hull well and executingtheir game plan very welland the score remained at 1-0 to the Saints at the break.
HALF TIME: #HCAFC 0-1 #SaintsFC @chazaustin10's early penalty is the difference between the sides at the break. pic.twitter.com/M8KWDCNRsV
The hosts got the second half underway, but it was the visitors who get the first just chance of the half just minutes in, Tadic had a shot 20 yards out deflected over Marshall's goal, but the Tigers did look more offensive in their play despite the early Saints chance.
After a debatable corner decision, Virgil van Dijk had a looping header hit the top of the bar and the danger signs loomed for Hull, but the Tigers looked a lot better in this second half and substitute Snodgrass smartly finished a clever pullback by Clucas to equalize and the stadium was rocking.
Just minutes later it was Snodgrass again with a brilliant cross from a free-kick and captain Dawson got his head to it and it beat Forster in goal to make it 2-1 to put the game well and truly in the home sides hands.
The Hull players needed to dig deep with every player behind the ball and putting their bodies on the line to get their first victory since August, Austin had a good effort from the edge of the box well saved by Marshall, who get down low to his left hand side to keep the score at 2-1 in favour to the Tigers.
Ward-Prowse had a free-kick 25-yards out fizzed over the bar and it would have to be another 10 minutes for the Saints to have another chance and it was a big one, Austin had a finessed effort well saved by Marshall and in extra time Jay Rodriguez had a header saved at the back post, Clucas also made a goal line clearance late on in added time.
Hull held on to get their first victory since August and put them level on points with West Brom Albion, who have a superior goal difference which keeps them in the relegation zone heading into the international week.
9�⃣0�⃣ | @HullCity 2 (Robert Snodgrass, Michael Dawson) @SouthamptonFC 1 (Charlie Austin) #HULSOU pic.twitter.com/tnR2SEJTtn
Line-Ups
Hull City XI: Marshall; Maguire, Dawson (c), Davies; Elmohamady, Mason, Livermore, Hendrikson, Clucas; Keane, Hernandez
Subs Used: Mbokani, Snodgrass, Huddlestone
Southampton XI: Forster; Bertrand, Van Dijk, Fonte(c), Yoshida; Clasie, Romeu, Davis; Redmond, Austin, Tadic
Subs Used: Boufal, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse