Steve Bruce apologises for 'embarrassing' Hull City performance

Steve Bruce has apologised to Hull City supporters for the 'embarrassing' 1-0 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor this afternoon.

Bruce's side earned the distinction of becoming the first team to lose to the Clarets this season after Ashley Barnes's second-half header proved enough for the hosts.

The Tigers managed just one shot at Tom Heaton's goal throughout what the 53-year-old manager described as an "awful afternoon".

Hull also had to play the remaining 20 minutes with 10 men when Curtis Davies was forced off injured after Bruce had already made his three substitutions.

"It's very rare in the two-and-a-half years I've been at the club that I can be embarrassed and say sorry to supporters who have travelled on an awful afternoon in their thousands," he told reporters.

"I can obviously look at myself in making three substitutions before 60 minutes, which was obviously a gamble, but I have to say we were probably better with 10 men than we were with 11."

The result leaves City 14th in the Premier League table, just two points clear of the relegation zone.