Hull 1 - 1 BurnleyMichael Keane makes amends for Burnley to rescue point at Hull City
Home team scorersTom Huddlestone 72 Pen
Away team scorersMichael Keane 76
This was not the result that Marco Silva will have wanted in Hull City’s bid to avoid relegation, against a Burnley side who have struggled away from home this season, but there were at least green shoots of improvement once again.
In a game that was even throughout, a draw was a fair result after Tom Huddlestone put Hull ahead from the penalty spot following a handball by Michael Keane before Keane atoned with the Burnley equaliser. Ashley Barnes was sent off for a second yellow card late on, but neither side could make a decisive breakthrough at the death.
Sean Dyche’s side could make the journey home from east to west with relative satisfaction after their embarrassing defeat to non-league Lincoln City last weekend, and for Hull there is continued momentum ahead of a crunch meeting with Leicester in their next game.
Early on Huddlestone often dropped extremely deep to assist the Hull back four in bringing the ball out, but there were a few minor scares. A lack of communication meant Andrea Ranocchia’s pass went astray and George Boyd tested Eldin Jakupovic with a low drive from 20 yards. Elsewhere, Robbie Brady was finding plenty of space down Hull’s left.
Soon Hull began to click into gear and started to apply some pressure. Dieumerci Mbokani – preferred up front instead of Oumar Niasse – headed Ahmed Elmohamady’s cross narrowly over before some good hustling from the striker resulted in the ball falling to Kamil Grosicki just outside the area. With Tom Heaton off his line, the Poland midfielder could only scoop his volley over.
Grosicki and Elmohamady had further half-chances before the interval but the closest either team came to a goal was when Ben Mee met Brady’s deep free-kick with a header on the run, only for Jakupovic to tip the ball onto the crossbar and somehow scramble it behind.
The first clear chance came in the 59th minute and went Burnley’s way following Ashley Westwood’s fine lofted ball over the home defence for Andre Gray, but the striker dragged his shot inches wide of Jakupovic’s right-hand post.
Moments later Grosicki almost scored a brilliant goal. Hull advanced down the right and, following a series of neat passes, the ball was played inside to Mbokani in a central position. He laid off to Grosicki who released a curling effort that flew just past the post.
Silva’s men did not have to wait too long for the opener. Hull won a corner down their left and when the ball was swung in it ricocheted into the arm of Michael Keane. Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot and Huddlestone stepped up to convert.
If Keane felt aggrieved at the decision, he made up for it almost immediately. Four minutes after conceding, Burnley earned a corner and Brady’s deep cross found him at the far post, the defender lashing the ball low past Jakupovic.
Hull threw on Abel Hernández in search for a winner but although Barnes saw red after an arm into the face of Ranocchia earned him a second booking, there was to be no further breakthrough.
Guardian
