IF financial prudence off the pitch was rewarded with luck on the field, Burnley rather than Hull City would be starting tonight’s match on the back of a weekend win.

While the Clarets dominated at home to Bristol City but could only draw 0-0, two late goals gave Hull a victory at Norwich that even boss Nigel Pearson admitted they did not deserve.

Off the field, the fortunes of the two clubs have been no less contrasting.

While both sides suffered the same fate in May – relegation from the Premier League – only Burnley have been able to start life back in the Championship on a firm footing.

Clarets chairman Barry Kilby refused to break the club’s wage structure during their one season in the top flight, and manager Brian Laws is confident that has left them in a sound financial position to challenge for promotion back to the Premier League.

When Wolves paid £7.5m for Steven Fletcher in the summer, Laws was able to reinvest much of the money in Chris Iwelumo, Ross Wallace, Lee Grant and Dean Marney - a £500,000 signing from Hull.

At the KC Stadium, most of the transfer activity has been outgoing. Stephen Hunt, Steven Mouyokolo and Boaz Myhill departed, while big wage earners George Boateng and Geovanni were released.

Jimmy Bullard only returned to the Tigers line-up two weeks ago after being left out as Hull desperately tried to find a buyer for the midfielder, whose salary they could no longer afford.

After overspending in the top flight, relegation has caused its fair share of problems and only now are they starting to find form after four points from their first five games this term.

"IHull did very well in the first year that they stayed in the Premier League,” said Burnley boss Brian Laws.

“But the second year syndrome was the killer because they really went all out to believe that they'd be a stable side in the Premier League and they threw a lot of money at it, as everybody's seen with the wages that they paid.

“They have had a really tough period because they've just over-excelled themselves, so they're finding it hard now to cope with it.

“That's the fine line of how far you go when you just get into the Premier League.

“I think our chairman and the board have done the right thing by playing it steady.

“For all the money you can get in the Premier League, you soon lose it and you can put yourself in such a difficult situation.

“Hull are finding the fact that they are still in the rut and they're having to make a lot of changes.”

Like Burnley, Hull have kept clean sheets in each of their last three games but away form has been their main problem.

The Clarets have won just once in their last 26 league matches on the road - at the KC Stadium in April, as they did a Premier League double over the Tigers - while Hull ended their own 30-game winless streak on Saturday.

Former Hull defender Leon Cort is likely to be on the bench once more tonight, while Marney is only likely to start if Graham Alexander drops out.

The 38-year-old has already started two games within the past week, with a trip to Millwall coming up on Saturday.

But the midfielder expressed his disappointment at being rested at Crystal Palace 10 days ago and Laws insists the veteran’s age will not necessarily result in limited appearances.

“Grezza will undoubtedly fight his corner but it's not about Grezza, it's about making the right decisions for the team,” said the Clarets boss.

“He fully understands that we'll make changes if necessary, as does every other player in the team.

“But I don't take into account his age. It's all about football at the end of the day.”