Burnley reignited their slim survival hopes by taking apart Hull City 4-1 to record their first away win of the season.

The Clarets had to come from behind though, after Kevin Kilbane headed the hosts into an early lead.

That goal aroused fears of a repeat of the 6-1 thrashing Manchester City dished out to Burnley in their previous game, but a smart finish from Martin Paterson levelled the scores before the break.

And in the second half Hull capitulated, conceding two penalties, both of which were converted by spot-kick machine Graham Alexander, with Wade Elliott adding a fourth deep in injury time.

Burnley knew that only a win could give them any chance of staying up and found the heart to take the points in the second half, though they relied on some appalling defending to get the win.

Nothing Hull offered was as dreadful as Burnley’s in the opening minutes, however.

Danny Fox did nothing to stop a cross from the Hull right, Tyrone Mears wandered away from heading it away and under no pressure at all Kilbane beat Brian Jensen with a firm downward header at the back post.

That goal left Burnley reeling, while the Tigers would have been hopeful of closing out the win that would have seen them close the gap on West Ham.

However, they failed to get a second goal and inevitably that cost them.

Mears atoned for his earlier error by raiding down the Burnley right and picking out Paterson, who swivelled tightly and finished smoothly acorss Boaz Myhill into the bottom corner from ten yards.

Michael Duff should have given Burnley the lead but missed the chance to convert from six yards early in the second half, but it wasn’t long before Hull handed their relegation rivals a lifeline.

God only knows what Ibrahima Sonko was thinking as he clattered into Duff in the area, with the referee given no chance but to award the penalty.

Alexander stepped up and added to his legend from the spot, cooly converting with the outside of his right boot into the bottom corner.

And the veteran Scot repeated the trick a few minutes later when David Nugent’s barnstorming run down the right channel was brought to an abrupt end by Bernard Mendy.

This time Alexander found the top corner and with the two goal cushion installed, Burnley were suddenly comfortable.

The midfield general must wish he could play Hull every week, as he also scored a brace when the Clarets beat them 2-0 at Turf Moor back in October.

Hull had chances to get themselves back in the game with Jozy Altidore particularly guilty of wasting a great chance, but the Clarets wer confident by this stage and added a fourth in the dying moments.

Elliott spotted Myhill out of position from a free kick close to the angle of the penalty area and bent a wicked effort over the goalkeeper to put a flattering shine on the scoreline.

The win means Burnley leapfrog Hull in the table, but West Ham’s 1-0 win over Sunderland means both sides will still probably join Portsmouth in the Championship.