Hull City v Burnley: Line ups & stats
Premier League standings/results
Burnley kept their survival hopes alive with an emphatic 4-1 victory at Hull City this afternoon thanks to a brace from captain Graham Alexander.
Relegation six-pointers don't come much bigger than this, and it was the home side who took the initiative after only three minutes. American striker Jozy Altidore found himself with space on the left before crossing in for an unmarked Kevin Kilbane to head home at the far post. A nightmare start for Burnley, and nightmare defending to go with it.
The game had started frantically, with both teams playing seemingly carefree football. Unfortunately, promising attacks were breaking down at frequent intervals in a reflection of why these two teams are where they are in the table.
As the half progressed, It was Hull who were looking more likely to add to their lead. Brian Jensen made a good save with his face to deny Altidore, before a Jimmy Bullard effort flew inches over the crossbar.
Still, games like this can turn at any moment, and on 35 minutes Burnley found an unlikely equalizer. Tyrone Mears showed great determination down the right hand side before crossing to Martin Paterson. The striker still had work to do, but controlled and then finished superbly to put the away side on level terms - it would stay this way as the referee blew the half-time whistle ten minutes later.
If the Tigers had ended the first half on a low, things were about to get a whole lot worse in the second half. Defender Andy Dawson was stretchered off with what looks like a serious injury, and this incident seemed to be the catalyst to what was about to happen.
Michael Duff should have made it 2-1 to the away side shortly after the injury, but could only blaze over the bar from six yards out. The defender was involved again when the goal finally did come, taking a tumble in the Hull penalty area following a challenge from George Boateng. The referee pointed to the spot, and spot-kick specialist Graham Alexander made no mistake in giving the away side a precious lead.
Ten minutes later, Hull's desperation had capitulated into despair. David Nugent made a good run into the penalty area, and defender Steven Mouyokolo decided the best thing to do would be to bring him down. The referee obliged once again to point at the spot, and Alexander obliged once more to find the net.
The Tigers were left with no option but to pump balls into the Burnley area, but the two goals they needed never looked likely. Altidore came inches away from turning in a cross just minutes from time, but even that would have been too little too late. In the final minutes of stoppage time, Wade Elliott compounded their misery and lit up the face of Burnley fans everywhere, curling a fantastic free-kick into the top corner and out of the reach of Boaz Myhill.
The result leaves both teams in the relegation zone and four points from safety, but anything can happen in the Premier League and Burnley will certainly harbor some belief that they can survive after this victory.
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