Clarets Tame Tigers so Automatic Promotion Back On

The Clarets continued their impressive form of late under new manager Eddie Howe after beating Hull City 1-0 at the KC Stadium last night. Our new loan striker, Nathan Delfouneso only signed a few hours before the game and rushed into the starting eleven scored what proved to be the winning goal after just five minutes of play. Hull tried their best to get back into the game but were thwarted time and time again by a resilient Burnley with Lee Grant playing a blinder ably supported by an on-form back four.

With other teams around us fighting for promotion dropping points, the away win keeps the pressure on and we are now just three points behind sixth- placed, Nottingham Forest but with two home games in hand over them. Indeed had we played and won those two games at home to Coventry and Middlesbrough this month before they were postponed we would now be just one point behind second-place Swansea!! The victory was our 5th win in six games and our first back-to-back away win since December 2008. It was also only Hull`s third defeat in 21 games such was the measure of this result. The win also meant we had now completed the double over Hull after we thrashed them 4-0 at Turf Moor earlier in the season

We really are now in poll position with two home games coming up against Millwall this Saturday and then Coventry the following Tuesday night. Our form really is coming together at just the right time and all we have to do now is maintain the momentum.

Eddie Howe at Hull last night made just one change to the starting eleven selected for the Palace game. Chris Iwelumo made way for new boy Nathan Delfouneso who had signed from Aston Villa a few hours before kick-off on a loan deal until the end of the season.

We therefore lined up as follows:

Grant, Mears, Duff, Carlisle, Fox, Wallace, Marney, Cork, Eagles, Delfouneso, Rodriguez

Subs: Jensen, Alexander, Edgar, Bikey, Elliott, Bartley, Iwelumo

The Clarets stormed out of the blocks and we were ahead after just five minutes of play. In a similar move to one attempted against Palace last Saturday, Jack Cork stepped over the ball from a Wallace corner allowing Rodriguez to shoot from the six yards box. This time though his low drive was blocked but the ball fell nicely to our new striker who stuck out a leg to score from two yards out. Burnley could have extended their lead. Marney drove a shot just wide with the ball shaving the post. Hull keeper, Brad Guzan also did well to get hold of an awkward shot from Ross Wallace.

Most of the chances though came from Hull after that with Lee Grant in top form denying them an equaliser. Michael Duff got in a goal-line clearance to deny in-form striker, Matty Fryatt.

Aaron Mclean just failed to head home before Corry Evans volleyed narrowly wide.

Lee Grant then made an excellent save from a volley by Andy Dawson and also denied Evans after he got in behind the Burnley defence with the goal at his mercy.

In the end though we held on to pick up three very valuable points and ensure it was a great night for all Clarets fans! So that`s the Tigers Tamed now bring on the Lions!

Match Stats

Hull: Guzan, Dawson, Chester, Gerrard, Rosenior, Harper (Simpson 87), Barmby (Amoo 72), Koren, C Evans, Fryatt, Mclean

Subs Not Used: Oxley, Hobbs, Cairney, Belaid, Garcia

Burnley: Grant, Mears, Duff, Carlisle, Fox, Cork, Marney, Wallace (Elliott 73), Eagles (Iwelumo 82), Rodriguez, Delfouneso

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Alexander, Edgar, Bikey, Bartley

Goal: Delfouneso 5

Booked: Yellow Cards for Fox and Mears

Possession: 53% Hull, 47% Burnley (Source: BBC Sport)

Ref: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire)

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