English Premier League strugglers Hull City have placed their manager Phil brown on gardening leave with immediate effect.

Saturday’s 2-1 loss at home to Arsenal left Hull second bottom of the table, three points from safety.

A statement on Hull’s website said coaches Brian Horton and Steve Parkin would take charge of the first team until further notice, with the duo’s first match since succeeding Brown away to tailenders Portsmouth on Saturday.

Brown still remains under contract with Hull so cannot work for another club.

Hull chairman Adam Pearson, while paying tribute to Brown’s role in guiding the Tigers into the top flight for the first time in their history in 2008 and overseeing their Premier League survival on the final day of last season, said the club had to act now if they were to stay among the elite.

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Didier Drogba celebrated his return from the African Cup of Nations by scoring his 20th goal for Chelsea against Hull City last night, saving at least a point from the match.

Hull centre-back Steven Mouyokolo headed the Barclays Premier League strugglers in front, but Drogba, in his first Blues match for a month, snared a point for the table-toppers when he drilled home a contested free-kick just before the interval.

Hull started confidently, winning corners on the left and right inside two minutes.

Chelsea repelled them safely but Stephen Hunt’s delivery looked dangerous and the home side were assured in the opening minutes.

In the ninth minute Frank Lampard had the first chance of the match, capping a nice passing move with a swerving shot at goal. Boaz Myhill could only parry it to Nicolas Anelka 10 yards out but the Frenchman fluffed his finish.

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Arsenal came from behind to beat Hull City 2-1 in their FA Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium in London last night. The Gunners struggled to break down a resolute Tigers defence until 16 minutes from time Andrei Arshavin unselfishly set up Robin Van Persie for a close range tap in. Arshavin who was quiet until the end of the 1st half was the crucial element in the Arsenals fight back and in the end proved to much for a tired Hull defence.. Then just 6 minutes before full time an offside William gallas headed home from close range to ensure Arsenals first visit to the new Wembley stadium where they will face Chelsea.

The Tigers came out all guns blazing and took the lead through a deflection off Djourou from a shot by Nick Barmby and left fabianski for dead. Hull fortunatley couldn’t maitain their level of intensity and once the Arsenal got control of the ball the complexity of the game changed which saw Hull constantly on the back foot defending.The match was marred by a number of ridiculous yellow cards dished out by Mike Riley and many a Hull player should and will feel agrieved by some of his descisions.At the end of the day Arsenal live on to fight another day.