MICHAEL Duff felt Burnley Under-23s had been the better team in their defeat to Hull City.

The Clarets went down 2-1 at the Tameside Stadium but Duff was pleased with his youthful line-up, which also included three trialists.

Centre back Jake Barrett had come from Manchester United, while Arsenal midfielder Josh Benson and Everton winger Stephen Duke McKenna were also looking to impress.

Although they created the better chances the Clarets were undone by two headers from Tigers striker Tom Powell in the second half.

"We were the better team. We conceded from two poor set-plays which is difficult when you've got three trialists in the team because you've got a new set of players," Duff said.

"You can half understand that, but I thought there were some good performances.

"We missed a hatful of chances. As I told them, both boxes win and lose you games."

This was a game in hand for Duff's side, with the fixture in December abandoned when heavy fog enveloped the Tameside Stadium in the first half.

That game was called off with the Clarets already ahead, but they couldn't find a repeat to close the gap to Crewe Alexandra at the bottom of the Professional Development League north group, remaining eight points adrift at the foot of the table.

Dwight McNeil went close on the quarter hour, his low left-footed shot skimming just wide, before Ntumba Massanka made room for a shot 15 yards from goal but was denied by Callum Burton in the Tigers goal.

McNeil then turned creator, sending in a dangerous free-kick which Ollie Younger headed over.

Connor Mitchell had been relatively untroubled in the Burnley goal, but he showed safe hands to keep hold of Billy Chadwick's dipping volley.

Having controlled the first half Burnley were behind early in the second half when Powell headed in from a corner.

The Clarets didn't let their heads drop though and it was Massanka who deservedly levelled, tapping in from Benson's fine low cross.

McNeil then fired just wide from the edge of the area before Burton saved from the same player from close range and just pounced on the loose ball before it trickled over the line.

But it was Hull who restored their advantage midway through the second half, Powell's header from 12 yards was straight at Mitchell but the Northern Ireland Under-21 international could only fumble the ball over the line.

Burnley should have been level shortly after. Manchester United trialist Jake Barrett won the initial header from a free-kick before Massanka fired the ball back across goal, but Christian N'Guessan's attempted backheel finish was cleared off the line.

The Clarets were pushing for the equaliser and Massanka was inches away from connecting with substitute Tinashe Chakwana's low cross.

"We could have played a little more in the second half and passed it a little bit better," Duff said of the performance after the break.

"But if you look at that and say we had six under-18s in the team and three trialists we were more than happy with that. Of course you want to win the game, but there were a lot more positives than negatives."