City boss ready for play-offs
05 May 2008 - 12:40:16
Hull City manager Phil Brown has backed his side to earn promotion the hard way by winning the Championship play-offs.
A 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Town left the Tigers third in the Championship table and set for a semi-final showdown with Watford, as they chase a top-flight spot for the first time in their history.
However, a confident Brown told the Hull Daily Mail: "It's a lottery now, as every manager will tell you. We're in the semi-final of a cup.
"Watford are not the form team at this moment in time so, probably, going into the game, we'll be favourites. We'll be well-equipped for it.
"Over the 46 games the players have been superb, but it was a bridge too far. They deserve whatever plaudits they are getting, but obviously we're disappointed we are just in the play-offs.
"If someone had offered us third at the start of the season, I would've taken that.
"To be disappointed at finishing third is testament to how far we've come this year."