BURNLEY closed the gap on the Championship’s top two after a narrow victory over Hull City at Turf Moor.

In a keenly contested game it was Sam Vokes who struck late on to give the Clarets all three points, and move them to within one point of the automatic promotion spots.

It also extended their unbeaten run of Championship fixtures to seven, since the 3-0 defeat at Hull on Boxing Day.

Sean Dyche once again named an unchanged side for the visit of the in-form Tigers, with Steve Bruce named Championship manager of the month for January and Abel Hernandez player of the month after scoring six times in four games.

But it was Burnley who started brightly. Ben Mee headed David Jones’ far-post corner goalwards only to see it blocked by Allan McGregor, and from the resulting corner from the other side Michael Keane headed over from six yards, after Jones and Boyd had worked it short initially.

Hernandez was clearly the dangerman for the visitors and he twice tried his luck from distance in the opening quarter of an hour, sending a volley on the turn wide and then dragging a shot from the edge of the box across goal.

On the half hour Joey Barton saw a low 30-yard free-kick turned behind by McGregor, but Burnley’s most likely route to goal looked to be from corners.

Sam Vokes glanced one wide before Jones again went short, this time with Matt Lowton, who returned the ball to the midfielder and his back post cross was met by a charging Barton, but his header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by McGregor.

At the other end Hull kept the ball alive in the box before Robert Snodgrass fired a volley straight at Heaton.

The visitors were first to threaten in the second half with right-back Moses Odubajo cutting in-field and hitting a fierce left-footed shot, which was palmed away by Heaton.

The Clarets stopper was in action again on the hour mark as Snodgrass fed Hernandez, who cut inside Keane, but Heaton was out quickly to smother the ball.

It was Hull who had improved for the interval and Burnley were living on scraps going forward, with Vokes almost feeding Gray twice, only for the ball to run away from the Championship’s top scorer.

The Championship’s in-form striker was threatening at the other end, with Hernandez throwing himself at a Clucas cross but his diving header cleared the crossbar.

The deadlock was broken 13 minutes from time. Gray and Arfield linked up down the left and Arfield’s cross was deflected out to Barton. His shot from 20 yards was saved by McGregor, but he couldn’t hold on and Vokes was on hand to tap home from six yards out.

Vokes could have doubled the advantage minutes later when Gray’s scuffed shot landed at his feet, but his first touch was heavy and after poking his second beyond McGregor he went down, but rather than a penalty he was booked for diving.

The failure to double the advantage didn’t matter as the Clarets defended resolutely in the closing stages to secure a vital three points.