Hull City boss Steve Bruce admits they're facing relegation after defeat at home to Burnley.

Bruce admitted his dismay was heightened by the fact that two recent back-to-back wins over Crystal Palace and Liverpool had made him believe that survival was in the Tigers' own hands.

"If we're being honest, we were nowhere near in all the departments that are required to go out and win a match of this magnitude," he said.

"Whether we were nervous or edgy or tense, I don't know, but it was certainly a frustrating day all round. We were a shadow of the team that played a week ago, which is the hardest thing to take."

Bruce saw his side twice come close when Robbie Brady hit the bar from long-range free-kicks, while there was also some misfortune about (Danny) Ings' goal which came when Michael Dawson was on the touchline with a nosebleed.

The Tigers boss added: "I'm not going to make an excuse, but it's an absolutely ludicrous rule - there was a tiny speck of blood that could have been wiped away with a handkerchief.

"He's got a tiny nosebleed and he's a big tough centre-half who wants to be in the middle of the six-yard box to head it clear."