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| Graham Alexander © Reuters |
Burnley piled further pressure on under-fire Hull City coach
Phil Brown with a 2-0 win on Saturday that leaves the north-east
club third from bottom in the Premier League.
Two goals either side of half time by Graham Alexander gave
Burnley the points but Brown was incensed after a stunning
free-kick from Geovanni was controversially ruled out with half an
hour to play and the score 1-0.
Hull's fury at referee Mike Jones was compounded minutes later
when Geovanni saw red after collecting a second yellow card for a
mistimed challenge.
The result capped a forgettable week for Hull, who are embarking
upon their second season in the division following their promotion
in 2008.
Chairman Paul Duffen resigned from his post on Thursday amid
rumours that Brown was set for the sack, while financial auditors
Deloitte reported that Hull's debts mean they could go out of
business if they are relegated.
Burnley's home form has been the key to their successful start
to life back in England's top division and they began the game at
Turf Moor with typical vigour.
Owen Coyle's men took the lead in the 20th minute through
Alexander, who placed home a penalty on his 100th league appearance
for the club after Stephen Hunt was adjudged to have impeded Tyrone
Mears inside the Hull area.
Hull were aggrieved by the penalty decision but Burnley
continued to come forward, with Robbie Blake, Andre Bikey and Wade
Elliott all going close.
Stand-in Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke then pushed away a long-range
effort by Chris Eagles before Stephen Jordan shot wide from 15
yards after Hull failed to clear a corner.
Kamel Ghilas should have drawn the visitors level shortly after
half-time when he fired straight at Brian Jensen from Seyi
Olofinjana's lay-off and Elliott almost made Hull pay when he
headed wide from a corner.
Substitute Bernard Mendy also forced Jensen into action as Hull
upped their hunt for an equaliser before Geovanni's inch-perfect
free-kick into the top corner was contentiously ruled out by Jones
for pushing in the wall.
The Brazilian's protests earned him a booking and moments later
he was ordered from the field after appearing to slip as he tackled
Steven Fletcher.
Alexander made it 2-0 with 13 minutes remaining when he smashed
in his second from outside the area and Hull's luck was summed up
with two minutes remaining when left-back Andy Dawson's low effort
bounced back off the post.
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