‘Crazy’ finale spoils Barmby’s day as Burnley end losing run

After starting his reign with a 2-0 win at Derby the previous week, the first Hull-born manager in the club’s history put defeat down to lack of composure and will be looking for a response at Southampton tomorrow night.

Fryatt’s goals should have been enough to send Burnley to a fifth consecutive defeat but, after conceding late goals in their previous two games against Leeds and Birmiongham, the boot was on the other foot this time as Jay Rodriguez drilled the ball beyond Peter Gulacsi in stoppage time with strike partner Sam Vokes standing in an offside position but not interfering with play.

“Crazy football, absolutely crazy,” said Fryatt, who played as a lone striker in the absence of the suspended Aaron Mclean with support coming from flank duo Cameron Stewart and Robbie Brady and Robert Koren operating just behind the striker.

“We had dominated the game and were totally in control and had played some good attacking football. They pulled one goal back and we lost our composure and shape,” said Fryatt.

“We were a bit naive. We needed to shut up shop at 2-1 up. We should have done stuff which would have frustrated the opposition but we just seemed to hand them the momentum which built their confidence.

“We should have put a bit more thought into what we were doing to see out the game like the top teams do. It’s something we need to learn from if we get in the same position again. We should have done things which are not pretty on the eye but which get you results.”

Although sloppy in the early stages, Fryatt was handed a tap-in inside the six-yard area in the 12th minute after Stewart, making his first appearance at the KC Stadium in nine months following knee trouble, left Kieran Trippier for dead going down the left.

Stewart continued to be the biggest threat on either side but chances were at a premium and it was not until the last kick of the half that the Tigers went close to doubling their lead, Brady cutting inside and forcing a low save from Lee Grant.

Burnley chief Eddie Howe confessed he had got his selection wrong in an attempt to strengthen the Clarets defence – Marvin Bartley sitting in front of the back four with just Rodriguez up front.

So, at the interval, he restored Vokes to attack and gave his side a greater goal threat.

Rodriguez almost equalised with a smart shot on the turn following a long throw from Ben Mee but the ball rebounded off the bar.

Hull heeded the danger and Fryatt collected Koren’s through ball and smashed a shot at Grant, whose weak attempt at a save only helped the ball into the net as Hull made it 2-0 in the 55th minute.

Fryatt had a couple of opportunities to register his hat-trick before twice turning provider for Koren, who was blocked down the left and then denied by Grant’s hand as he shot from close range.

For the visitors, a four-man crossfield move ended when Ross Wallace floated the ball wide of the far post but Burnley struck back in the 78th minute after Corry Evans was booked for a challenge on Wallace near halfway.

Andy Dawson came on for the tiring Stewart before the free-kick found Wallace and his cross was headed powerfully home by David Edgar.

The centre-back was the Clarets hero four minutes later as a throw from Trippier was flicked on by Vokes and Edgar forced home from close range.

It took two stunning saves by Gulacsi from Keith Treacy to keep the Clarets at bay before Rodriguez struck the winner.

“We didn’t deserve the three points overall but we stuck together and we dug in and it was a massive three points for us,” said Canadian former Newcastle United defender Edgar after his first goals for the Clarets.

“We have been unlucky in the last couple of weeks in games that we could have got something from and if you could have seen the dressing room on Tuesday (against Birmingham) it was a really depressing place. It really hurt everyone.

“The last 15 minutes today showed no-one wanted to be on the back of a 2-0 or 2-1 defeat and we wanted those points.

“No-one was looking at the bottom three or thinking about relegation. It’s a long season and we know we have the quality to move up the table.”

Barmby, reflecting on his first home game in charge, said: “We took liberties where we thought it was going to be easier than it was. That’s been a harsh lesson for us.

“We’re all bitterly disappointed but it’s 15 minutes of madness that has cost us. Once they went to 2-1 we lost composure and this is where we’ve got to learn.

“We don’t want people thinking if Hull City go 2-0 up they’ll lose their shape or their composure. I’m not going to lambast the players or have a go because for 75 minutes they did the right things.

[email protected]

Before the start of play there was a minute’s applause for long-time Hull backer and Barmby’s brother-in-law Glen Telford, who died recently aged 47.

Hull City: Gulacsi, Rosenoir, Hobbs, Chester, Dudgeon; Koren, Evans, McKenna; Stewart (Dawson 77), Fryatt, Brady (Adebola 87). Unused substitutes: Basso, Cairney, McShane.

Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Edgar, Duff, Lee; Bartley; Wallace (Amougou 90), McCann, Treacy, Stanislas (Vokes 46); Rodriguez. Unused substitutes: Stewart, Hines, Easton.

Referee: A Taylor (Manchester).