So called experts should let those in charge pick the team

Last updated : 01 November 2009 By Tony Scholes
After the game Brown admitted delight at the response he'd had from his players and said: "What went for us was the commitment of the players in the situation we are in. I don't think anybody can question that."

But he quickly moved on to the referee. I didn't see any infringement when the goal was disallowed and I didn't see anything when Tyrone Mears went down for Burnley's penalty," he said. "I hope the referee watches Match of the Day and if he thinks he has made the right decisions he can ring me on Monday morning.

"You keep calm because of the commitment of the players and judging by the way they addressed today, we will be all right and we will be in the Premier League next season."

One of those players, Paul McShane, had something of a tantrum when he left the field, but Brown had no problem with that. "He's an excitable lad," he said.

Owen Coyle saw his side end that run of two defeats with a fifth home win of the season. "I thought we were fully deserving of that and I am delighted," he admitted.

"It's our biggest three points of the season because you know how difficult any three points are in this league.

"Phil may feel aggrieved at a few decisions that went against his side, but there's no doubt we were the better team and we should have had that game put to bed by half time before the Geovanni free kick.

"It was an outstanding bit of skill but a couple of the Hull lads had pushed a couple of my lads out to make a space in the wall. I've got to say that didn't affect the free kick but the referee saw the foul and gave it well before the ball hit the net.

"For the penalty my initial reaction was that Tyrone Mears was nudged and lost his balance. Obviously the Hull players didn't seem to think so, but we have been on the end of some decisions like that this season so when they come your way you take them and Graham Alexander did what he does best and slotted it away in the corner."

Coyle was delighted with Alexander's contribution to the performance. "For me he is more than just a penalty taker, he's Mr Dependable," he said of the two goal hero.

"We lost our first league game at home in nine month and I was a little bit disappointed in some of the things I heard during the week. All of a sudden all those who can pick a team were clamouring for changes and Graham isn't afforded a bad game. If he does, it is because he's too old, not just because he had a bad game.

"I showed faith and loyalty to that team and we went again because we played well against Wigan. Graham personified that team performance and the so called experts should let those who are in charge pick the team."

Continuing on the same theme, he felt goalkeeper Brian Jensen had suffered because of his performance last week, certainly one or two national tabloid reports were scathing of him.

"Brian was outstanding today and again he answered to what had been said last week. Some of the criticism he took last week was wrong and some of that was personal, but the lad took a pain killing injection today because he wanted to be out there and all credit to him and all my lads.

"We are sitting here with fifteen points and if it was a financial table we would be falling off the bottom. We have the lowest paid players in the league but they continue to give their all and show quality on the ball."