Source: SKY_Sports
Brown - Pompey not 'must-win'
Hull City boss Phil Brown insists Saturday's clash with rock-bottom Portsmouth is not a 'must-win' game.
The Tigers take on Pompey at the KC Stadium with both sides struggling at the foot of the table.
But Brown, whose side have taken just seven points from their opening nine games to sit third from bottom, denies it is a 'must-win' encounter.
He told the Hull Daily Mail: "People will talk about must-win games but I don't think this is one of them.
"Of course you go into every game wanting to win and looking to win.
Half decent
"If we were to win, it would give us 10 points from 10 games, a half decent start and back to the drawing board to improve in the next quarter.
"It would make it a big result if we're up to 10 points and Portsmouth have only got three.
"It's a massively important fixture but we're not looking any further."
Despite Pompey winning just one game all season, Brown is refusing to underestimate Paul Hart's side.
He added: "Performances suggest they are a very good team, but I'm not underestimating them for one minute.
Heap pressure"They're trying to heap pressure on us by saying we're the home team, but I know what's coming out of their changing room and I know that they're a good side.
"They are choking at the minute because they are bottom of the division, and so are we to an extent. Our carrot is to be seven points better off than them.
"But we're at home and hopefully after the game we can be talking about how we've addressed our home form.
"The focus is concentrated on making the KC a fortress and we should look forward to playing there every week."
