Steve Bruce plays down Shane Long dive claims

Hull City manager Steve Bruce has played down claims that striker Shane Long dived to win a penalty against his former club West Bromwich Albion.

Long went down under a challenge from Craig Dawson in the first half, with replays showing that there had been minimal contact.

Nikica Jelavic missed the resulting penalty, but Liam Rosenior was on hand to head home the rebound, before Long added the second in the 2-0 victory.

"We didn't play well today by any stretch of the imagination but if you have got that bit of quality at the top end of the pitch they can create something and they will always be a handful with the attitude they've got," Bruce is quoted as saying by the Hull Daily Mail of his strike duo.

"Shane is never going to dive - he's as genuine as they come. But when you move as quickly as he does, you are going to go over with the slightest little tap. It might be a soft penalty but Chris Foy is close and maybe he's seen and heard some contact."

The victory lifts the Tigers into 12th place in the Premier League table.