The Clarets returned to winning ways courtesy of a Graham Alexander double in what was his 100th appearance for the club.

A composed penalty in the first half and then a spectacular drive from distance in the second helped the Clarets bounce back from last week's home defeat to Wigan.

Coyle said: "I thought we were thoroughly deserving of our win throughout the game. We started well but Phil (Brown) will feel aggrieved because some of the big decisions went against him.

"But we had numerous chances and I believe we should have had the game sewn up by half-time.

"With better decision making we could have come in with more than a one goal lead at half-time but that group of players, everything I asked of them they produced again.

"This was a massive game for us. It put seven points between Hull and us and we're not kidding anybody, we'll be in that group of teams.

"Some of the play, passing and moving was everything I'm after."

Coyle called for a sense of perspective during the build-up to today's game and he reminded fans not to get carried away after his side made it five home wins from six in the top flight.

"I was a little disappointed with some of the stuff during the week," he added.

"We lost our first home game in nine months and all of a sudden everybody who knows how to pick a team was clamouring for changes.

"I showed loyalty to the group that played last week and they've come up trumps again.

"They continued to put in the effort and show quality on the ball and I'm absolutely delighted for this group of players."

Geovanni, who thought he had equalised for Hull with a second-half free-kick which the referee ruled out, was also sent off to cap a miserable week for the visitors who now have just eight points from their opening 11 games.

But manager Phil Brown, who pulled no punches in his assessment of referee Mike Jones, insists his side can play their way out of their current predicament.

He said: "I think what went for us was the commitment of the players, that's the first thing I will say.

"In terms of a manager asking for a committed performance from a group of players who were under pressure because of the situation that we are in. I don't think anybody can question that.

"Yes decisions have gone against us, probably four in total which tends to lend itself to something else. But we're not here to talk about that.

"With that kind of commitment and that level of performance from my players we'll be fine this season but we have to put a run of games together.

"We've got a big game against Stoke next Sunday and the one thing you need in your locker is commitment."