Hull City FC

• Nickname:
• Founded:1904
• Manager:Nigel Pearson

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City boss ready for play-offs

05 May 2008 - 12:40:16

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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."