Source: SKY_Sports
Brown calls for 'brave' Tigers
Hull City boss Phil Brown has cried out for his side to stand up and be counted as they bid to get out of the relegation zone.
The Tigers sit second from bottom after a torrid start to the season which has seen them acquire just four points from their opening seven games.
Next up for Brown's men is Saturday's home clash against a Wigan side supreme on confidence after last weekend's 3-1 success over Chelsea.
Roberto Martinez's Latics will be looking to build momentum following their victory over the title challenging Blues and travel to a happy hunting ground at the KC stadium, where they emphatically thrashed the Tigers 5-0 last year.
But Brown, who took his players on a soul-searching walk across the Humber Bridge on Wednesday, has asked for them to rise to the occasion this weekend.
Bravery"We need brave players," the Tigers boss told The Guardian. "It's not a time for fear, it's a time for bravery. It's a time for people stepping up to the plate. We need players who can stand up and take the challenge."
Current form does not read well for Hull fans as last Saturday's 6-1 battering at Liverpool was preceded by a 4-0 bruising by Everton in the Carling Cup and some supporters have voiced their discontent at Brown.
But the Tigers boss claims those critics are people who have only started supporting the club since they gained Premier League status.
He added: "It's very interesting. When you think about the fans who are doing it, I can understand it to a certain extent because two-and-a-half years ago they probably weren't sitting in the stadium.
"They probably don't know the history of Hull and they have probably supported the club only for the last couple of years. In which case, they only know success and Premier League football.
"I remember that, when I first came to the club [as a coach], Phil Parkinson got the sack after two games, one at Colchester when we were beaten 5 1 and one against Southampton when we lost 4 2.
"I took the job thinking, 'How far can I take the club in a short space of time?' Well, the answer is there for everyone to see.
"At the time, we had an average crowd of 13,000 and 10,000 season-ticket holders. It's now 25,000 and 21,000 respectively. So maybe they [the supporters] are not prepared to give me time because all they have known is success."
