Hull effectively plunged back into the Championship and potential financial meltdown with defeat to Sunderland at the KC Stadium. Although technically not yet down, their horrendous goal difference condemns them, thanks to Darren Bent’s early goal and West Ham’s victory over Wigan. They are six points adrift of the London club with two games remaining.

Management consultant Iain Dowie warned that edginess was inevitable from his team given their on-field dire circumstances, and Hull got off to an horrendous start when Darren Bent steered in his 24th Premier League goal of the season with a deft volley beyond the far post, from strike partner Kenwyne Jones’s looping header across the six-yard box.

Yet they were given a lifeline when Sunderland captain Michael Turner, a cornerstone of the Hull team to earn an inaugural promotion to English football’s top tier two years ago, stuck out a leg to fell Geovanni in the area five minutes before the break.

Jimmy Bullard, billed as the East Yorkshire club’s saviour upon return from two serious knee injuries, stepped up to take the penalty. His effort beat the diving Craig Gordon but lacked real conviction and thudded off the base of the post.

Heads disappeared into hands all over the KC Stadium – even Dowie struck the pose – and further despair wafted around the 25,012 crowd in first-half injury time when striker Jozy Altidore was dismissed along with Sunderland’s Alan Hutton for a skirmish on the touchline. Incensed by his opponent throwing the ball at him, Altidore’s forehead appeared to make contact with Hutton’s cheek – and a red card for violent conduct will terminate his further involvement this season.

Despite Steve Bruce’s protestations, among the Sunderland throng that surrounded referee Lee Probert, Hutton received the same fate when he regained his feet. Bruce was later ordered to the stands in a petulant contest – his side’s first away victory since the opening day of the season.

Premier LeagueHull CitySunderlandguardian.co.uk

The theme tune of The Great Escape rang out around the KC Stadium before kick-off this afternoon, but come full-time it was Burnley who were celebrating. Not that either side are likely to escape the relegation zone now, the blow of West Ham’s home win effectively putting the kibosh on any lingering hopes of salvation.

Still Burnley will have felt the exhilaration of a win – their first away victory of the season – in a game that Hull, with the slightly better form of the two sides, had been expected to swing. But the pendulum took an unexpected and very decided turn in Burnley’s favour, and after two penalties, Iain Dowie’s team left the pitch looking dazed and confused.

Hull had started the game so confident and bright. Little more than two minutes in and Jozy Altidore chipped a lovely floating ball across goal to meet Kevin Kilbane’s head, the Ireland international putting the ball away to score his first goal in 26 months. What a wait, but what sweet timing.

Burnley’s defence clearly had not learned much since their 6-1 drubbing at home to Manchester City last week. Altidore had a chance to score a second for Hull as he turned the head-bandaged Michael Duff, only for his shot to be parried away by the keeper, Brian Jensen. Jimmy Bullard caught the rebound, but volleyed the ball over the crossbar.

With Hull driving one-way traffic, any chance of a Burnley comeback looked unlikely. But Brian Laws’s side kept chipping away, and all of a sudden the visitors struck gold. Tyrone Mears’s cross came for Martin Paterson who slid the ball under the arm of Boaz Myhill.

In the second half Burnley grew in confidence, Duff just missing a perfect chance to give his side the lead as he failed to convert with Paterson’s cross despite being completely unmarked. On the sidelines Laws drove his head into his hands, doubled over in disbelief, but as the game wore on it became apparent that it was Hull who were falling apart.

Minutes later Dowie could hardly believe his eyes as Ibrahima Sonko brought down Duff, gifting Burnley a penalty. The captain, Graham Alexander, stepped up and slotted the ball home to put Burnley into the lead. Five minutes later and David Nugent raced through, Bernard Mendy panicked and tugged him down. The referee, Martin Atkinson, once again pointed to the spot, and Alexander booted home his second of the day.

Hull attempted a late revival, but deep into injury time it was Burnley who were the strongest, Wade Elliott curling home his side’s fourth goal of the day.

Premier LeagueHull CityBurnleyAnna Kesselguardian.co.uk