Source: Daily_Mail
We have a Hull of a chance now, says Tigers boss Brown ahead of Villa clash
Hull boss Phil Brown wants his players to keep their end of the bargain tonight to put the seal on a superb weekend.
The relegation-threatened Tigers have seen all three sides below them in the Barclays Premier League lose over the last two days while the four immediately above them were also beaten.
That has given them an excellent opportunity to ease their fears of the drop at out-of-form Aston Villa this evening.
Brown admits his team were following the weekend scores while on the bus travelling south and he hopes they will be even happier when travelling home.
'I think we'll have the TV on on the coach,' said Brown before his team's departure yesterday.
'You can't get away from it. But the only happy bus I'll be interested in is at 10.30 on Monday night, coming back to Hull because we've done our end of the bargain.'
Brown, whose side were due to train at Birmingham City yesterday, has spoken of the advantage his team could gain from playing after all their rivals but now he needs them to capitalise.
Hull find themselves in deep trouble, just three points above the bottom three, after winning only once of their last 18 games.
Yet Villa's form might also offer encouragement with Martin O'Neill's side having failed to win in nine outings, a run that has put an end to their Champions League qualification hopes.
Brown said: 'A lot have made reference to the fact Villa are not in a great vein of form, but as far as we are concerned it will be a tough game.
'Nobody will expect us to win but we have kept our best football for the teams in the top half of the division.
'Villa have gone ahead 14 times this season, we have gone ahead 11 times and neither side has been beaten when they have gone ahead.
'That suggests the first goal is going to play a major part in the outcome of the game.'
Daniel Cousin is set to start his first match for Hull since injuring his back last month.
The Gabon striker is expected to take the place of Caleb Folan, who begins a three-match ban for his sending-off against Liverpool last week.
Captain Ian Ashbee is back from suspension.
