Source: Telegraph
Hull City 1 Burnley 4: match report
Burnley went from zeroes to heroes today to keep alive their slim hopes of Premier League survival as the prospect of relegation increased for a hapless Hull City side who were booed off by their own supporters on the final whistle. [LNB]The unflappable Graham Alexander was the star of the show for Burnley as he converted the two penalties in a memorable comeback for the Lancashire club as Hull suffered what could be an irrevocable blow to their hopes of preserving their top-flight status. [LNB]Hull City v Bolton Wanderers previewBoth clubs now seem likely to go down but at least this meant Burnley have regained pride as, just a week after his team were humiliated 6-1 at home by Manchester City, Laws saw his side bounce back in style to secure their first away win of the season over their relegation rivals thanks to a spirited comeback at the KC Stadium.[LNB]Alexander struck in between goals from Martin Paterson and Wade Elliott that gave Burnley their first top-flight away victory since 1976 when Newcastle were beaten at St James' Park to enable the visitors to jump above Hull who are now second-bottom of the table. [LNB]It had all looked so bright for Hull early on as Kilbane scored his first goal in Hull colours to put the Yorkshire club on course for what should have been their second win in four games since Iain Dowie succeeded Phil Brown last month in the third minute as Burnley's defence disintegrated. [LNB]Just over two minutes had elapsed in this relegation showdown when the Republic of Ireland international was presented the simplest of chances as the midfielder was left unmarked when Jozy Altidore latched onto Craig Fagan's pass down the right wing and curled over a far-post cross that was nodded past the helpless Brian Jensen. [LNB]Hull spent most of the opening exchanges on the front foot as Burnley toiled in the sunshine but shaky defending by Dowie's back four must have raised Laws's team hopes that they could find a way back into the contest. [LNB]Jensen, though, came to his side's rescue on the half-hour when Altidore turned Michael Duff only for the goalkeeper to dash off his line to repel his shot before Jimmy Bullard sent the loose ball flying over. [LNB]The visitors made the most of that let-off in the 35th minute as right-back Tyrone Mears got the better of Kilbane before slotting a pass through to Paterson who turned his marker before slotting a low shot beyond Boaz Myhill. [LNB]The Hull cause suffered another setback five minutes into the second half when defender Andy Dawson was taken off by stretcher with a knee injury following a collision with Mears that brought to a premature end his 200th league appearance for the Tigers. [LNB]Local hero Nick Barmby was sent on to invigorate his hometown club but Burnley refused to relinquish the initiative seized just before Paterson's equaliser. [LNB]Indeed, the Clarets should have taken the lead in the 57th minute when Paterson's cross found Duff lurking unmarked at the far-post but he curled his shot over the crossbar from 12 yards out to leave Laws holding his head in his hands in the Burnley technical area. [LNB]But Laws, whose side had lost 12 of 15 games since he took charge in mid-January, was celebrating shortly afterwards when Martin Atkinson awarded a penalty after George Boateng manhandled Duff as he prepared to shoot and Alexander beat Myhill in audacious fashion, striking the ball just inside Myhill's left-hand post with the outside of his right foot in the 64th minute. [LNB]Alexander repeated the trick in the 70th minute after Bernard Mendy brought down David Nugent but the only difference this time was the fact that Myhill had even less chance as the ball found the top left-hand corner and Burnley were on their way to a 'double' over. [LNB]Hull went close late on through Barmby and Bullard but most home fans had left for home when Elliott completed the rout when he curled a hopeful free kick from the left wing beyond Myhill deep into stoppage time. [LNB]Seconds later Atkinson put those that stuck around until the very end out of their misery before boos echoed around Humberside to drown out the jubilant Burnley fans' celebrations.[LNB]
