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Graham Alexander scored twice to hand Burnley a 2-0 Premier League win over Hull at Turf Moor and increase the pressure on Tigers boss Phil Brown.

Alexander, playing his 100th league game for the club, netted from the penalty spot after 20 minutes to hand the hosts the lead after Stephen Hunt had been harshly judged to have brought down Tyrone Mears, before doubling the advantage with a low drive late in the second half.

Hull thought they had drawn level after the break when Geovanni fired a free-kick into the top corner only for referee Mike Jones to rule out his effort for pushing in the wall.

The midfielder's day then went from bad to worse when he was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for a late tackle.

Hull, who have been at the centre of a media storm this week following the resignation of chairman Paul Duffen and continuing questions over the future of boss Brown, were sluggish from the first whistle.

The hosts quickly assumed the upper hand, playing the ball neatly around midfield with panache as Hull laboured to retrieve possession.

And they were rewarded for their supremacy when Alexander fired them ahead from the spot after 20 minutes.

The visitors could feel a little aggrieved with the penalty decision after Hunt was adjudged to have brought down Mears in the box. The midfielder clipped the heels of the full back as he marauded into the area and tumbled to the floor after the faintest and most accidental of touches.

The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Hull, and provide an extra impetus to the hosts as they set up camp in the visitors' half.

Clear-cut chances, however, were few and far between. Robbie Blake failed to control the ball, before sending a cross-cum-shot over the bar on the half-hour mark before Andre Bikey headed over from six yards and Wade Elliott had a shot beaten away at the near post by Hull keeper Matt Duke.

Chris Eagles drew another good save from Duke just before the break, with the Hull keeper managing to parry his stinging effort from outside the area away from the on-rushing Steven Fletcher.

Hull came out after the break rejuvenated and should have drawn level three minutes after the restart when Kamel Ghilas fired straight at Brian Jensen after being played in on goal by Seyi Olofinjana.

But if Ghilas was guilty of poor finishing, no such claim could be laid at the feet of Geovanni who looked like he had equalised with a superb free-kick that nestled in the top corner from just outside the area.

His effort, however, was ruled out by Jones, who had spotted some pushing in the wall, much to the annoyance of Geovanni who picked up a booking for his sustained protest.

And within minutes the midfielder's day was done as he was given his marching orders for a late tackle on Steven Fletcher.

Burnley were in no mood to be charitable and rubbed salt into Hull's open wounds to double their advantage with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Alexander rounded off a slick passing move to drive the ball into the bottom corner from outside the area.

Hull hit the post late on when Andy Dawson fired in a low effort that cannoned off the woodwork before going wide as if to remind the visitors that luck was firmly not on their side.

The result will raise further questions about Brown's future with the Tigers currently stranded in the bottom three with only two wins from their opening 11 games.

Toby Davis / Opta