Source: SKY_Sports
Brown focused on staying up
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Hull City manager Phil Brown is focusing on securing his side's Premier League survival after the Tigers were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Everton.[LNB] Brown fielded an under-strength line-up for the third round clash at the KC Stadium and paid the price as the Toffees eased to a 4-0 victory.[LNB]But after the match Brown chose not to dwell on his side's defeat and instead looked ahead to the upcoming league fixtures.[LNB]And the former Derby manager admits that Hull have 'a long way to go' if they are to remain in England's top-flight.[LNB]"We have got a big job to do. Everybody is expecting us to go out of this division because of the second-season syndrome," Brown said.[LNB]Fight"It is about rolling the sleeves up now and fighting even harder. Hopefully whatever team I pick on Saturday will respond in the right manner.[LNB]"Nobody likes being in the bottom three, but we have a job to do that is a long-term plan. That long-term plan is six games in. We have got a long way to go."[LNB]The Tigers travel to Anfield on Saturday and Brown says he will prioritise crunch league matches over competitions like the Carling Cup.[LNB]He added: "We have a massive game on Saturday - nobody expects us to get anything - and then it a massive October for us.[LNB]"The Premier League is obviously the priority. It always has been and always will be."[LNB]Good StartEverton assistant manager Steve Round was pleased to see the visitors effectively end the contest with three goals in the opening 25 minutes.[LNB]"I think the early goals made a difference, they knocked the stuffing out of Hull a bit," he said after the match.[LNB]"They had a young team trying to get to grip with the game and I think that might have knocked the wind out of their sails a little bit.[LNB]"Once we got the goals we took control of the game and it was just a matter of seeing it through."[LNB]Round was also quick to sing the praises of returning striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who found the net on his first start since a lengthy lay-off from an Achilles injury.[LNB]The Nigerian opened the scoring and also created a goal for Dan Gosling before being taken off at half-time, a substitution Round said was precautionary.[LNB]"He is a 20-goals-a-season striker. He has had nine months out and I have seen how hard he has worked to come back," he added.[LNB]"It has been a long road for him so the whole team are delighted for him to get a goal.[LNB]"He has got a slight thigh strain. We want him to train tomorrow and be ready for Saturday so we took him off as a precaution."[LNB]
