TEN-MAN Burton Albion went down 2-0 at the KCOM Stadium as Hull eventually made their extra numbers pay despite a valiant defensive effort from the Brewers.

The Brewers squad was depleted by Covid-19 leaving Jake Buxton with few options and having to bring Callum Hawkins and Tom Hewlett back from loan spells to fill out the bench.

Stephen Quinn and Indiana Vassilev returned to the squad and Ben Garratt was back in goal. There was also a Sky Bet League One debut for Owen Gallacher as Buxton made the most of the resources at his disposal.

Kane Hemmings, although named in the starting line up, was unable to take the field and Vassilev came in to take his place.

The Brewers misfortune continued apace when they were reduced to ten men on 18 minutes. Sam Hughes who had already been booked for a foul on Mallik Wilks tangled with the same player again and when he went to ground the referee was quick to brandish what seemed a harsh second yellow and Hughes had to depart.

By that point Hull had already wasted the best chance of the opening quarter with Jacob Greaves heading wide from a free kick when the goal beckoned.

Ryan Edwards had also had a good chance for Albion, latching on to a near post cross but guiding the ball wide.

On 22 minutes, Wilks created space for a shooting opportunity from 25 yards but Ben Garratt was equal to the challenge getting down smartly.

The Brewers with their two banks of four held Hull at bay resolutely but the home side should have gone ahead on 40 minutes when James Scott on the overlap reached the box with the goal gaping but inexplicably missed the target.

Two minutes later Garratt was forced to save at the feet of Wilks and the ball bounced away from goal but no Hull player was following up.

The Brewers though held out to the break.

HALF:TIME: 0-0

Hull brought Adelukan and Eaves on for the second half to try and increase pressure on the Brewers.

The home side camped out in the Brewers half but found chances hard to come by and Albion bolstered their defence further with the return of Michael Bostwick from injury replacing Stephen Quinn after 54 minutes.

Albion nearly took the lead themselves with a free kick effort from Neal Eardley on 57 minutes that curled just wide.

But Hull did eventually get the goal their possession demanded on 61 minutes when Honeyman floated a free kick into the box, a defensive header dropped to Wilks seven yards out and he calmly converted the chance.

On 72 minutes Hakeeb Adelukan twisted through a challenge and fired at goal but Garratt got down low to save.

Ten minutes later Eaves should have doubled the lead when he was clean through on goal but Garratt came out to make a fine save.

On 87 minutes Adelukan did make it two firing a low shot from 25 yards across the goal and into the bottom corner of Garratt’s net.

It was tough on the Brewers who did all they could against the adversity on the day.

ALBION: Garratt, Eardley, Gallacher, Brayford, Hughes, Quinn, Gilligan, Edwards, Vassilev, Lawless, Ennis: Subs: Hawkins, Hart, Bostwick (for Quinn 54), Hutchinson (for Eardley 87), O’Toole (for Hughes 20) Hewlett

Picture: Thanks to Hull City FC