Burnley 1 Hull City 0: Top spot ensures Tigers do not need to panic

KEEP things in perspective. A call both Steve Bruce and Curtis Davies made independently from each other when reflecting on Hull City's winning start to 2016 having come to an end amid a Lancashire downpour.
Mohamed Diame moves away from Michael Keane.
 Picture: Bruce RollinsonMohamed Diame moves away from Michael Keane.
 Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Mohamed Diame moves away from Michael Keane. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

With good cause, too. The Tigers may have lost to a big promotion rival in Burnley, Sam Vokes’s predatory instinct proving to be the difference in an evenly-matched contest.

But Bruce’s men remain at the summit of the Championship and firmly in the hunt for an instant return to the Premier League.

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Over the 90 minutes at a sodden Turf Moor, the visitors matched the in-form Clarets. The second half, in particular, had seen Hull master the difficult conditions to such an extent that Bruce felt sufficiently confident to make a double substitution designed to take all three points rather than settle for a goalless draw.

Joey Barton and Abel Hernandez challenge for a high ball. Picture: Bruce RollinsonJoey Barton and Abel Hernandez challenge for a high ball. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Joey Barton and Abel Hernandez challenge for a high ball. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Alas, a little over a minute after bringing both Chuba Akpom and Sone Aluko off the bench, Burnley went ahead through Vokes and Hull’s six-game winning run was at an end.

“We have got to keep a bit of perspective on it,” said Bruce, whose side remained top thanks to both Middlesbrough and Derby County dropping points elsewhere.

“To me, we didn’t do much wrong. We went away from home in atrocious conditions and played some good football. We were unlucky, it is as simple as that.

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“It was a good opportunity for us. A draw wouldn’t have been a bad result to keep them all at bay but that wasn’t to be.

Joey Barton and Abel Hernandez challenge for a high ball. Picture: Bruce RollinsonJoey Barton and Abel Hernandez challenge for a high ball. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
Joey Barton and Abel Hernandez challenge for a high ball. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

“I did feel if any team was going to go and win it, then it would be us. I can’t really remember Burnley being a threat to our goal in the second half. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get the rewards we deserved.”

Over the past 12 months, Hull have seen the best and worst of Joey Barton. The midfielder’s negative side came to the fore on February 21 last year, his senseless dismissal for a slap to Tom Huddlestone’s nether regions costing his then-team Queens Park Rangers dear in a relegation six-pointer that the Tigers went on to win in the last minute.

Almost exactly a year on from that silly act of petulance, the other, more commendable side of Barton came to the fore in another key clash against City.

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Not only was the 33-year-old the best player on the pitch but it was his eye for an opening in the 77th minute that led to the only goal of a tight game.

Scott Arfield, following decent link-play with Andre Gray, swung over a cross from the left that found its way to Barton.

Twenty yards out, the former Newcastle United midfielder had just one thought on his mind – going for goal.

His drilled effort gathered pace from the wet surface and was sufficiently powerful to cause problems for Allan McGregor, who could only divert the ball towards Vokes. His neat finish meant City were behind and heading for a first defeat since December 28 at Preston North End.

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Considering how hard-fought the game had been between two teams doing their best amid driving rain and a howling wind, Vokes’s fourth goal in six appearances was harsh on Hull.

McGregor had been the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half thanks to Burnley being the better team, the Scot’s most notable save coming when he acrobatically tipped a header from Barton over the crossbar.

But Tom Heaton was far from unemployed in those opening 45 minutes, a volley from Robert Snodgrass requiring a smart save from the Clarets goalkeeper.

After the break, Hull set the pace as Heaton beat away Moses Odubajo’s shot before bravely diving at the feet of Abel Hernandez after the Uruguayan had been released by Snodgrass.

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Hernandez also headed wide from an inviting cross from Sam Clucas before the pivotal moment of the afternoon arrived courtesy of the in-form Vokes.

After that, City rather lost their way and it was the hosts who ended the contest on top to clinch three points whose value will only truly be known come May.

For now, Burnley exacting revenge for their Boxing Day humbling at the KC Stadium has left the table concertinaed at the top with just one point separating Hull from Sean Dyche’s men in third place.

It promises to be a battle to the very end, as Davies readily admitted in the wake of City’s second consecutive 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor.

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“Describing it as a missed opportunity wouldn’t be fair on Burnley,” said the defender, who reasserted his desire to stay at Hull amid ongoing talks over a contract extension. “We had a couple of half-chances, here and there. But I felt a draw would have been fair. The frustrating thing is it was a game where I never felt uncomfortable, never felt like we would lose.

“But then Joey got the good connection and the ball fell to Vokes. Afterwards, I just went in the changing room and said to everyone, ‘Keep your heads up, we have a lot of big games coming up this month’.

“It wasn’t a game where we were walked over. We were worse at Fulham and won the game. This league is all about fine margins.

“We have to keep things in perspective. The biggest thing is we are still ahead of Burnley. We still have a game in hand on them. To keep Burnley at arm’s length with a draw or even a win would have been brilliant.

“But we are still top so dodged a bullet. Derby played in midweek, too, so we have a game in hand on them now, too.”