Tigers will not be fooled by Burnley’s ‘false’ position

The Tigers host Eddie Howe’s strugglers today in a game that will give the KC Stadium crowd their first opportunity to hail Barmby’s appointment as manager.

City’s first Hull-born manager is certain to be afforded a rapturous reception by supporters who recognise the big role he has played in the club’s revival.

Since joining from Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer of 2004, Barmby has helped the Tigers win promotion from League One and then reach the top-flight for the first time.

Now, following his appointment as Nigel Pearson’s successor, Barmby is determined to build on last week’s hugely encouraging bow at Derby County when Hull claimed a 2-0 victory to return to the play-off places.

In contrast, Burnley have endured a miserable week with last-minute defeats to Leeds United and Birmingham City having dumped the Lancashire club deep in the relegation mire.

Barmby, though, insists no-one at the KC will be taking the Clarets lightly.

The City manager said: “We have studied the opposition like we always do. We won’t be treating them lightly because of where they are because when you look at the squad they have got, they have some dangerous players.

“You look back to when we played Watford here and people thought that was a foregobne conclusion because of where they were in the league. But they took us all the way.

“In this division, there are always teams that slip and we can’t treat anyone lightly. The lads know that, as we have put the message across.”

Burnley, for their part, are determined to tough out what has been a difficult period for the club, who along with four successive defeats this month also recently announced a £4m loss in the last financial year.

Howe, who led Burnley to a 1-0 win at Hull last year courtesy of a battling performance and a debut goal for Nathan Delfouneso, said: “Looking back to that game we didn’t play particularly well but we ground out a 1-0 win. What we’d do for that now because that’s probably what we need to add.

“I think we have done it once this year at Millwall, where we didn’t play particularly well but we ground out a great result.

“It is something that all good teams do and we have to do the same. We need to be a little bit more streetwise and a bit more savvy in closing out games.”