Source: SKY_Sports
Brown - Biggest test yet
Hull City manager Phil Brown admits retaining the Tigers' Premier League status will be the biggest test of his managerial career.
Last season's Championship play-off winners were quick out of the blocks this season, but a run of just one win in the last 18 Premier League matches sees them just three points above the drop zone.
City missed the chance to move away from the bottom three after losing a six-pointer to Blackburn on Sunday and now Brown believes halting the club's slide will push his skills as a boss to the limit.
"It's the biggest test of my career in terms of being a manager," he told the club's official website. "It probably is for the players as well.
"You look at the Hull City squad and a lot of people say the players have been playing above themselves. We've now got to try and play above ourselves for the last 11 games.
"Yesterday was a six-pointer and there are now only three points between us and Blackburn. It's as simple as that."
Brown was pleased with their start against Rovers until Matt Duke's error gifted the visitors their opener.
The former Derby County manager insists mistakes need to be eradicated from their game if they are to given themselves a chance of staying up.
"If we minimise mistakes from now until the end of the season, there's a possibility we'll be okay. But it has to happen now," he continued.
"There are 11 games to go and we're still in a positive predicament. In the first 30 minutes yesterday, the confidence was there and the belief was there.
"The mistakes in the first half cost us. Whenever you come up against a Sam Allardyce team, you know they will be well drilled into winning the second ball. We have to minimise mistakes to keep that belief.
"Thirty minutes into the game, I was quite comfortable. Then they got a couple of second balls and consequently got two goals back-to-back which certainly turned the game in their favour."
Brown's decision to withdraw playmaker Geovanni from the proceedings for Nick Barmby drew a negative reaction from fans, although he stands by his choices.
"I didn't think Geovanni was having a positive impact on the game. The match winner on Thursday night (in the FA Cup) was Nick Barmby and I thought it was a chance for him to come on and play in the same position.
"The substitutions were very positive and turned the game towards our favour. Cousin and Barmby had a positive impact on the side and we possibly could have got something from the game.
"Half time came along and I could have made changes then. But because we'd been in control for 30 minutes, I thought we maybe had enough out there. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
"As I saw it, I thought he did have a positive impact on the game."
