Hull City boss Steve Bruce has admitted that he is at a loss to explain his side's poor performance in their 4-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers.

The Tigers conceded three goals in the opening eight minutes as Darren Pratley, Mark Davies and Craig Dawson scored, effectively ending the game.

Bruce told reporters: "I've had better days. That start is something you see at school. How can you explain it?

"It's one of those freak things. I have never been involved in something like that and I don't think it will happen again for a long time."

The defeat has seen Hull slip out of the automatic promotion places at the top of the Championship.