Phil Brown plays down Stoke clash

Phil Brown has attempted to alleviate some of the pressure on his Hull City side by claiming that Sunday's Premier League tie against Stoke City is not a "must-win" game.

GettyImages

Phil Brown is under real pressure at Hull City.

With just three league wins in 2009, Hull are struggling for form and it has been suggested that another defeat at the KC Stadium could force new chairman Adam Pearson to end Brown's time in charge of the club.

Pearson has so far been reluctant to offer the manager any long-term guarantees regarding his job security but Brown is insistent that he is ignoring speculation surrounding his position, and that the Stoke game is not as critical as has been made out.

Hull lost 2-0 at Burnley last weekend and could conceivably be at the bottom of the Premier League if results go against them prior to kick-off on Sunday.

"I am not tired of hearing it (speculation) - I am not aware of it. It is as simple as that," Brown said. "People are saying it's a must-win game but it's not a must-win game at all.

"As far as I am concerned, putting a performance in similar to the Burnley game will be sufficient to get the home crowd going. If we get that performance the results will follow. It is about putting our best foot forward in the first 5-10 minutes to get the crowd behind us.

"It's part and parcel of my job, trying to keep the players away from speculation. I look at my players on the training ground to see if the pressure is getting to them and all I can say is that they will be throwing their hats into the ring this weekend. I can't ask any more as a manager.

"We have got to keep in any positivity and keep any negativity outside the camp. With the amount of media pressure it's very easy to get distracted but where the players are concerned, going into the game, we are looking for a performance."

As well as casting doubt on Brown's long-term prospects, the arrival of Pearson as a replacement for outgoing chairman Paul Duffen has led to speculation that as many as 15 players could be sold in the January transfer window as the club look to lighten the load of an oppressive £35 million wage budget.

However, Brown insists he has not been told that a major cull of the squad is required, adding: "He hasn't said that to me."

Meanwhile, Sunday's game will see Seyi Olofinjana face Stoke for the first time since his £3 million move to Hull over the summer, and the Nigerian has used the build-up to his personal reunion to back Brown in forthright terms.

"I don't want the manager to get sacked,'' said the 29-year-old. "He has shown a lot of faith in me and brought me here. I feel for him and feel very badly, but we can only help him by playing well and getting points on the board."