The Republic of Ireland international slotted home from 12 yards after Yannick Sagbo had been bundled over inside the six-yard box by former Hull defender Michael Turner.

Bruce admitted that he would not have been surprised if no spot-kick had been awarded, but was clear on the game's second major talking point.

Sagbo was dismissed just five minutes after the goal for butting heads with Jonny Howson, and the 52-year-old accepted that referee Mike Jones' decision to brandish a red card was correct.

"Looking at the penalty when it happened, it looked clumsy but I haven't seen a replay yet," Bruce said.

"You see them given and you see them not given. We got away with it and got the big decision our way.

"The other decision (the red card) I've got no complaints about.

"The boy (Sagbo) was silly and had a rush of blood and did something stupid. They've grappled with each other.

"He hasn't head-butted the lad, but he went through the action and when you-re 10 yards away from the referee, you're going to be red carded and rightly so."

Hull had to be dogged in the second half at the KC Stadium as Norwich dominated possession, although the visitors failed to create any clear-cut openings.

And Bruce was ecstatic with his side's application to cling on for their first Premier League points of the season.

"We did fantastically well to hang on and defend for our lives," Bruce added.

"Our organisation and sheer will to win was pretty evident for everybody to see.

"Our goalkeeper made a couple of saves, but I don't think Norwich were able to create the type of chance that they really wanted and obviously we're delighted about that.

"All credit has to go to the players, who stuck to their task and how we wanted to go about it. You can set them up and say, 'go out there and play like this', but they have to have the legs to do it, the attitude to do it and that was there for everybody to see.

"Norwich never really carved us open and we were resolute and determined. We got promoted last season by being difficult to beat.

"We showed signs today that we can play when we've got the ball, but we must be very, very good without the ball. We can take enormous pride that that type of organisation has got us three points."