Source: Team_Talk
Laws hopes win will quieten critics
rian Laws hopes Burnley's win at Hull will quieten the critics that have made the past week the most challenging of his managerial career.[LNB] On the day Portsmouth were relegated following West Ham's win over Sunderland, Burnley looked like they would soon be following them out of the top flight when Kevin Kilbane headed Hull into a third-minute lead.[LNB]But ex-Scunthorpe forward Martin Paterson equalised after 35 minutes, Graham Alexander tucked in penalties after 64 and 70 minutes and Wade Elliott curled in a stoppage-time fourth as the Clarets claimed a first away win of the season and just a second in 14 Premier League matches since the appointment of Laws as Owen Coyle's successor.[LNB]Burnley and Hull remain languishing in the relegation zone, four points adrift of safety, but Laws paid tribute to his side for their response from the 6-1 debacle against Manchester City.[LNB]"It's been a very tough week, to say the least," said Laws.[LNB]"As a manager I've been an easy target this week for criticism and hopefully that might just quieten them down for at least a few more days."[LNB]Laws also had to endure speculation his job was under threat due to dressing room unrest, exacerbated when out-of-favour midfielder Joey Gudjonsson hit out at the former Sheffield Wednesday boss.[LNB]"Externally it was very difficult, because the media were very much on our backs, particularly mine," said Laws.[LNB]"I'm a cheap shot at the moment, very easy to get at because we were not winning games.[LNB]"The manner in which we lost the (City) game was a difficult one because you ask questions about yourself.[LNB]"You get cheap shots in a newspaper from a player (Gudjonsson) which doesn't help the cause.[LNB]"It's disappointing to see a player put remarks in the paper who has not even been involved in the team, in the squad and isn't even going to be here next season. But the players have responded in the right manner and answered those questions."[LNB]Laws took confidence from the responses of Wigan, Sunderland and Aston Villa after they suffered heavy losses earlier this term and was delighted to end the woeful away run.[LNB]"We'll certainly wake a few people up with that result, that's for sure," he added.[LNB]"The most satisfying thing for me is that the players have proven they can win away from home.[LNB]"We've got to build on that."[LNB]Iain Dowie has maintained a positive outlook since being appointed Hull's temporary football management consultant after Phil Brown was placed on gardening leave.[LNB]In his four games in charge, Dowie has one win - the 2-0 defeat of Fulham - and losses at Portsmouth and Stoke and now a home defeat to Burnley.[LNB]"The manner of the defeat is the galling part of it," said Dowie.[LNB]"It makes you sick to the pit of your stomach, because I thought the game started well.[LNB]"It's about heart and desire and we had one player, George Boateng, who played with that today - I thought he was outstanding."[LNB]Dowie was given nine matches to save the Tigers from the drop and now has five remaining.[LNB]"It (the loss) makes it hugely more difficult," he said.[LNB]"It was one of the four games at home we planned on getting some points from. We haven't done that, so now we've got to go with our away record to Birmingham.[LNB]"We've got to respond in the way Burnley have done."[LNB]
