Burnley heap pressure on beleaguered Brown

Burnley piled further pressure on under-fire Hull City coach Phil Brown with a 2-0 win on Saturday that leaves the north-east club third from bottom in the Premier League.

Two goals either side of half-time by Graham Alexander gave Burnley the points but Brown was incensed after a stunning free-kick from Geovanni was controversially ruled out with half an hour to play and the score 1-0.

Hull’s fury at referee Mike Jones was compounded minutes later when Geovanni saw red after collecting a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge.

The result capped a forgettable week for Hull, who are embarking upon their second season in the division following their promotion in 2008.

Chairman Paul Duffen resigned from his post on Thursday amid rumours that Brown was set for the sack, while financial auditors Deloitte reported that Hull’s debts mean they could go out of business if they are relegated.

“I expect to be manager of this football club in the Premier League next year,” said a defiant Brown afterwards.

“There’s been a resignation of a chairman about which I have spoken at length. I spoke to the owner (Russell Bartlett) at length on Thursday and Friday and will speak to him at length today and tomorrow and we will find out more on Monday.

“The announcement will be forthwith and hopefully I’ll be standing alongside (new chairman) Adam Pearson on Monday.”

Burnley’s home form has been the key to their successful start to life back in England’s top division and they began the game at Turf Moor with typical vigour.

Owen Coyle’s men took the lead in the 20th minute through Alexander, who placed home a penalty on his 100th league appearance for the club after Stephen Hunt was adjudged to have impeded Tyrone Mears inside the Hull area.

Hull were aggrieved by the penalty decision but Burnley continued to come forward, with Robbie Blake, Andre Bikey and Wade Elliott all going close.

Stand-in Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke then pushed away a long-range effort by Chris Eagles before Stephen Jordan shot wide from 15 yards after Hull failed to clear a corner.

Kamel Ghilas should have drawn the visitors level shortly after half-time when he fired straight at Brian Jensen from Seyi Olofinjana’s lay-off and Elliott almost made Hull pay when he headed wide from a corner.

Substitute Bernard Mendy also forced Jensen into action as Hull upped their hunt for an equaliser before Geovanni’s inch-perfect free-kick into the top corner was contentiously ruled out by Jones for pushing in the wall.

The Brazilian’s protests earned him a booking and moments later he was ordered from the field after appearing to slip as he tackled Steven Fletcher.

Alexander made it 2-0 with 13 minutes remaining when he smashed in his second from outside the area and Hull’s luck was summed up with two minutes remaining when left-back Andy Dawson’s low effort bounced back off the post.