Burnley came from behind to win 4-1 against fellow strugglers Hull City at the KC Stadium to claim a massive three points in the battle for Premier league survival.

Hull had the perfect start with Kevin Kilbane putting his side ahead after just three minutes, but a first-half equaliser from Martin Paterson, two second-half penalties from skipper Graham Alexander and a late Wade Elliott free-kick saw the visitors move level on points with the Tigers and four points from safety.

Hull broke the deadlock within three minutes of the kick-off as a neat pass from Craig Fagan allowed Jozy Altidore the time and space down the right to send in a pin-point cross on to the head of an unmarked Kilbane, who made no mistake at the back post with a thumping effort to register his first ever goal for the Tigers.

Hull then came close to doubling their lead on the half-hour mark as Altidore did well to turn his man inside the box and chip in a right-footed shot, but keeper Brian Jensen did well to parry the effort away.

Jimmy Bullard had a chance from the rebound, but his first-time effort saw the ball rise up and over the crossbar.

Burnley were level on 35 minutes through Paterson. Tyrone Mears found the Northern Ireland international with space inside the box and the ex-Scunthorpe man took full advantage with a turn and shot which beat Boaz Myhill and flew into the bottom left corner of the net to make it 1-1.

Michael Duff had a glorious chance for the visitors early in the second half as a cross from Paterson evaded everyone in the box and landed at the feet of the Burnley defender with time at the back post, but the Northern Ireland international failed to capitalise, sending the ball up and over the bar from eight yards.

Burnley were then awarded a penalty on 63 minutes as Ibrahima Sonko was adjudged to have brought down Duff inside the box. Captain Alexander stuck the resulting spot-kick into the bottom right corner of the net to send his side into a 2-1 lead.

Minutes later Brian Laws' side were awarded another spot-kick as Bernard Mendy was adjudged to have brought down David Nugent inside the area. Alexander converted his second penalty of the game to grab his eighth league goal of the season and make it 3-1 to the visitors.

The Clarets then made it 4-1 in injury time as Elliott caught everyone out with a superb free-kick from 20 yards which flew over the head of keeper Myhill and into the top corner of the net.