Newcastle 0-1 Hull: Joe Kinnear insists he played peacemaker in Phil Brown clash

Joe Kinnear has begged the FA to go easy on him over his latest disciplinary nightmare - after appearing to clash heads in a touchline bust-up with Phil Brown.

Hull boss Brown was also banished to the stands after the 23rd-minute clash, but Toon chief Kinnear insisted he was being a peacemaker, and insisted their heads did not touch.

It is understood that Newcastle were incensed because Brown clapped ref Phil Dowd for booking Fabricio Coloccini after a foul on Daniel Cousin, which Kinnear and his staff felt was not in the spirit of the game.

Kinnear and Brown face dug - out bans. The Newcastle boss has three FA charges pending, and says his "reputation" is causing referees to pick on him.

Newcastle crashed out of Cup to Cousin's 81stminute goal, which sent Hull into the fourth round for the first time in 20 years.

On the bust-up Kinnear said: "Phil was having a rant at Chris (Hughton), not too many pleasant things being said.

"I said to him 'enough, cool it'. As he came across the ref came over. I don't know whether my reputation precedes me. I only stood my ground. I was standing up for Chris.

"We just had words, nothing else . I am bemused. It was a harsh decision. He had his say I had mine, nothing more."

Brown said: "I was contesting the fact that every time the ball came to Danny Cousin, the centre half kept coming through the back of him."

The managerial spat overshadowed a drab replay between two below-strength sides.

Nicky Butt flashed a header against the bar but after Michael Owen missed three good chances, Hull went on to clinch a home fourthround tie against Millwall.

Cousin finished well after Bernard Mendy's shot was blocked and the rebound crossed by Richard Garcia. It was only their second shot on target.

Kinnear says he has made £4million bids for Rennes' Camero on midfielder Stephane Mbia, and Toulouse defender Albin Ebondo.

Newcastle : Given 6, Edgar 6, Coloccini 6, Bassong 6, N'Zogbia 6, Duff 6, Butt 6, Guthrie 6, Gutierrez 6, Owen 6, Xisco 5 (Carroll 76)

Hull : Duke 6, Doyle 6, Zayatte 6, McShane 6, Ricketts 6, Garcia 6, Boateng 6 (Ashbee 67), Fagan 6 (Mendy 73), Halmosi 6, France 6, Cousin 6

Attendance : 31,380
Referee : Phil Dowd

MAN OF THE MATCH Daniel Cousin (HULL)

VILLAIN OF THE MATCH Phil Brown (HULL)

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Sat, Jan 24: Millwall (h) FA Cup
Wed, Jan 28: West Ham (a) Prem

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