ROBBIE Brady played 82 minutes of Burnley U23’s 3-0 Professional Development League defeat to Hull City at the Tameside Stadium on Monday afternoon, writes Josh Bunting.

The Republic of Ireland international is on the comeback trail after suffering a hamstring injury in pre-season, when he was making his return from a serious knee injury suffered last December.

It was the Clarets who created the first opening of the match as Tunde Bayode crossed for Daniel Agyei, but he blazed his effort over the crossbar when well placed.

Jon Pepper’s troops started the game very much on top and had another good opportunity when Teddy Perkins played the ball to Brady, who saw his cross cut out by Robbie McKenzie in the centre as Agyei was lurking to tap the ball into the net.

George Long in the Tigers goal was called into action for the first time on 11 minutes as Mace Goodridge found Bayode before his low cross across the box was well read by the keeper, beating the onrushing Tinashe Chakwana to the loose ball.

Brady was then a whisker away on 16 minutes from putting his side into the lead as he fired a free-kick just over the crossbar following Jordan Hickey’s foul on Chakwana just outside the box.

Hull immediately then went on the attack with Lewis Ritson before he played the ball into Keane Lewis-Potter. He fired an effort goalward but the ball cracked off the crossbar and away allowing the Clarets to clear.

However, the same man did have the ball into the net minutes. McKenzie whipped the ball low across the box to Lewis-Potter before he slotted the ball into the net leaving George McMahon in the Clarets goal with no chance.

It was the visitors who had the ball in the net once again on 24 minutes when McKenzie’s whipped in free-kick from the right found the head of former Manchester United forward Will Keane, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Hull were very dangerous on the counter attack and they could have doubled their advantage on 32 minutes as Billy Chadwick broke free down the right before his cross to the back-post was well cut out by Anthony Glennon when Callum Smith was unmarked.

Long was then called into action in what was an entertaining end to end game when Agyei played in Chakwana but his powerful effort was kept out by the fine reactions of the City stopper low to his left.

Long then made a superb save on 39 minutes to keep out another Brady free-kick. The Republic of Ireland winger whipped the ball over the wall before the Tigers keeper got his fingertips to the effort pushing it over the bar.

McMahon then made a fantastic save with his legs on 44 minutes as Mckenzie, who was causing so many problems for the Clarets, crossed for Keane before his effort was kept out by the fine reactions of the stopper.

Hull City doubled their advantage in the opening minute of the second half as Brandon Flemming got free down the left before crossing the ball into Keane, who found the bottom corner.

The Tigers certainly didn’t lack bite in an attacking sense as they could have had a third on 48 minutes. Jon Toral pulling the ball back to Chadwick just outside the box, before his effort sailed just wide of the upright.

McMahon made yet another save as Lewis-Potter met a Smith cross at the back-post but his effort was well pushed away by the keeper.

Minutes later McMahon was called into action again with a fine stop as Toral sliced his way past the Clarets defence like a knife through butter, but his effort was well pushed away by the impressive Clarets keeper.

Brady then created a good chance for himself on 70 minutes as he was played in by Bayode, but his powerful strike was well blocked by Hickey as the ball was set for goal.

Long then was forced into his first save of the second half as Chakwana’s cross found Agyei but he could only direct his header into the keeper’s arms.

Burnley could have pulled a consolation goal back on 87 minutes as Bayode was played in by James Clarke, but he pulled his effort wide of the target when he really should have made Long work in the Tigers goal.

Hull however added their third on 88 minutes as former Arsenal midfielder Toral slotted the ball across McMahon into the net after he was played in by a defence splitting pass by Ahmed Salam.

The final chance of the match came deep in added time when Oliver Younger headed over a whipped in freekick from Bayode.