Edging closer

Without ever dominating an almost typical end of season game we had enough of the ball and created enough chances to have brought all three points home. Despite the upturn in form recently, that's five unbeaten now, we are still unable to find the net away from home and it is a long time since Ricketts gave us the lead at Ipswich.

Lafferty coming in for the loan striker was the only change to the Clarets line up and we made a bright start and should have had the lead in the first ten minutes of the game. Alan Mahon, who was nothing like the dominant figure we saw last week, found Branchy with a ball from the right. He brought it down well enough but with just the keeper to beat he put his shot wide of the far post.

Shortly afterwards he had another chance, this time he broke clear but his first touch was poor and from what had been a clear one-on-one he was unable to even get a shot in and his ball across the box was easily cleared.

Nothing much had been seen of the Hull attack, they weren't getting much change in midfield and when they did get through they found our back four in excellent form, particularly Michael Duff and Frank Sinclair in the centre. It's hard to believe that John McGreal can be fit and not in the side but it would be a very difficult decision to leave either of these two out just now.

The home side did get a couple of shots in on goal, but they were from distance and didn't cause us any problems whatsoever. We were very much the better side although more than once the incredible Darren Drysdale halted us with some very strange decisions. He went on to have a very poor game, and I cannot believe anyone there today will be able to work out just how on earth we managed to get four of our players yellow carded.

It only needed a goal and it would have been a very good first half for us but with just a few minutes of the half remaining we lost loan player Phil Bardsley. He pulled up as he made a run to support the attack and from distance it looked as if he had a hamstring injury. He limped off, but as he made his way to the tunnel it was some minutes before we got a sub ready.

That was Johnny Mac and we all expected Duff to go to right back but he stayed where he was and Frank took the flank position. The early diagnosis was wrong though, the club have this evening reported it as an ankle injury to Bardsley.

Half time discussions were positive, most thought we could get ourselves a goal and go on to win it, and there had been nothing to worry us from the home side. If anything we got more on top as the second half got underway although there were a couple of worrying moments when Jensen failed to collect balls under pressure.

Drysdale did a bit more card waving, although we probably couldn't complain at Frank's following a late challenge, and then we got another good chance. Kyle was played in but he got too close to the keeper and tried to hit home with his left foot only to see Myhill save with his feet.

It was all Burnley now and following a rare lapse by the referee (he actually gave us a free kick) Mahon placed the kick just wide of the post. We weren't to come as close again as the game petered out somewhat. The Legend made a triple substitution but it had no effect and we saw out the rest of the game with no worries whatsoever.

So we are still waiting for a first away win since Luton in November but there were positives today. We created chances, we tried to play constructive football, it was the home side playing the long ball stuff, and at no time did we ever look like losing it.

We've just one more chance now to win away and that's next week at Millwall where a win would give us out second double of the season. I think we might just do it.

There were some outstanding performances today and they came mainly at the back where Michael Duff again impressed as did John McGreal when he came on, looking as if he'd never been away. But it is captain Frank for me – he's an inspirational player and played well in both positions today, even finding time to wind up the natives during the second half.

And a special mention too for Andy Gray – he's settled in well and had another good game up front today. I think he's going to become a firm Turf Moor favourite.

All we needed was a referee – where on earth do they find them?

The teams were,

Hull: Boaz Myhill, Alton Thelwell, Leon Cort, Damien Delaney, Andy Dawson, Ryan France (Billy Painter 81), Stuart Green, Keith Andrews, Kevin Ellison (Stuart Elliott 81), Darryl Duffy (Craig Fagan 81), Jon Parkin. Subs not used: Matt Duke, Scott Wiseman.

Burnley: Brian Jensen, Phil Bardsley (John McGreal 39), Michael Duff, Frank Sinclair, Jon Harley, Alan Mahon, James O'Connor, Chris McCann, Graham Branch, Andy Gray, Kyle Lafferty (John Spicer 83). Subs not used: Micah Hyde, Wade Elliott, Garreth O'Connor.

Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Attendance: 19,926.