Burnley vs Hull City match report: Ashley Barnes clinches Clarets’ first win back in top flight

Burnley 1 Hull City 0: Victory not enough to lift Burnley off the bottom but gives them hope that survival is a possibility

(Getty Images)

Ashley Barnes’ last goal had helped secure promotion to the Premier League and his first in the top flight may enhance Burnley’s chances of staying there as they finally won their first game of the season.

Barnes scored on Easter Monday as Burnley confirmed their elevation from the Championship but since then has played only a minor role as manager Sean Dyche has tried other permutations.

Barnes belatedly got his first start of the season and the former Brighton striker, 25, responded with a trademark centre-forward’s headed goal five minutes into the second half.

Before yesterday, Burnley had led in only one game during this campaign and as that was against Chelsea, the joy was not expected to last.

But going in front against Hull was always likely to be more pivotal in terms of end result, particularly bearing in mind recent history which had seen Burnley win seven of their previous eight meetings.

The way Burnley started hinted at more tangible evidence of their ability to survive.

Danny Ings, part of England’s Under-21 squad to play a friendly against Portugal at Turf Moor on Thursday night, had an excellent chance inside the first minute after he muscled past James Chester but with just goalkeeper Steve Harper to beat he lifted his shot inches wide of the far post.

Harper kept out a volley from Ings with a fine save to spark a goalmouth scramble which saw Robbie Brady clear Paul McShane’s attempted clearance off the line.

Ashley Barnes heads the ball past Steve Harper (Getty Images)

Burnley’s dominance paid off when Kieran Trippier delivered the cross for Barnes to steal a yard on Ahmed Elmohamady and power a header past Harper from eight yards out.

Hull manager Steve Bruce reacted with an instant double substitution, quickly followed by a third as Hatem Ben Arfa was introduced into a re-shuffled 4-4-2 formation to try to muster some sort of threat.

Hull’s cause wasn’t helped when a back injury forced defender Curtis Davies off to leave his side with 10 men for the last 20 minutes.

Sean Dyche's team finally won their first game of the season (Getty Images)

Dyche said: “A marker has been laid down. You get your first win and everybody feels better.

“It’s great and I will enjoy it but it’s not about one win. There’s more than one win needed. We know that but it’s important to get that first win.”

Bruce said: “In two and a half years at the club this is the first time I have been embarrassed. I say sorry to the supporters who have travelled in their thousands.

“We were better with 10 men than with 11 and that is a sad indictment of the first hour.”

Line-ups:

Burnley (4-4-2): Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Ward; Arfield (Kightly, 55), Marney, Jones, Boyd; Ings, Barnes (Jutkiewicz, 75).

Hull (3-5-2): Harper; Chester (Ben Arfa, 59), McShane, Davies; Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone (Ramírez, 59), Diame, Brady; Aluko (Quinn, 51), Hernandez.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg.

Man of the match: Ings (Burnley)

Match rating: 6/10