Hull boss Phil Brown knows better than to take an under-strength
Manchester United lightly - but hopes to surprise the champions on
Sunday.
Injury-hit United are again likely to be forced to play with
midfielders in their defence as they face Brown's side at the KC
Stadium in the Premier League.
Sir Alex Ferguson's makeshift rearguard was exposed in a
shock 3-0 defeat at Fulham last weekend but Brown knows all too
well United's understudies should not be underestimated.
With a Champions League final to prepare for, United fielded
a virtual third-string side in the corresponding fixture last
season - and still won 1-0.
That result, on the final day of the campaign, would have
relegated the Tigers had Newcastle not been beaten on the same
afternoon.
Brown said: "There have been one or two surprises there this
year, probably lads in the reserves at the start of the season that
didn't think they would get a chance.
"But they are Manchester United players, it is as simple as
that.
"They made a lot of changes last year and beat us 1-0,
playing some great football.
"We have got to be prepared for that. Whatever comes out of
Manchester United's changing room is good enough.
"But we are at the KC Stadium, where we feel we are playing
some good football. It's not a fortress yet, that takes time, but
we are undefeated in six there.
"We have got to put our best foot forward and perform to the
best levels of our ability.
"When you play the Premier League top four you have got to
hope they are on an off day but it is an opportunity for us to try
to take three points."
Brown expects his players to bounce back quickly from last
weekend's 3-0 defeat at Arsenal. The scoreline at the Emirates
Stadium was ultimately emphatic and the game was marred by an
unseemly fracas involving 21 players, but Brown was pleased with
the Tigers' performance. Brown described the decision to charge his
club with failing to control their players over the melee as
"scandalous" and felt decisions went against them.
"You have got to dust yourselves down," he said. "It is about
your response to adversity.
"Our response to a 3-0 defeat is what I am focusing my
attention on. We have got to get on with it.
"We are looking for a level playing field. We want to be able
to perform as well as we did against Arsenal, a top-four side, and
get a fair bounce of the ball and decision-making process."
Brown did admit, however, that Hull did benefit from one
generous decision - a penalty award Geovanni failed to take
advantage of. He added: "We did get a soft penalty but there was an
infringement."
Brown expects veteran Nick Barmby to be fit despite being
unable to train throughout the week with the calf injury that
curtailed his involvement last week.
The match is presently the last for the likes of Seyi
Olofinjana (Nigeria), Daniel Cousin (Gabon) and Kamel Ghilas
(Algeria), who will be available before linking up with their
countries for the African Nations Cup.
With the tournament in Angola not starting until January 10,
Brown is in negotiations to push their departures back, with
Olofinjana the player he is especially keen to retain for longer.
Ideally the manager would like the 29-year-old to face Wigan
in the FA Cup on January 2 before heading to Africa.
He said: "My argument is quite simple. Seyi Olofinjana played
45 minutes at Arsenal, he could play 90 minutes against Manchester
United and 90 minutes against Bolton.
"Then you'll have a Premier League-fit player going to the
African Nations as opposed to if he doesn't play and flying out
with 45 minutes of work under his belt.
"It makes a lot of sense. It is a win-win situation to me,
but I am not the Nigerian Football Federation.
"I am trying to keep him until after the Wigan game and I
guarantee the NFF I will give them a fully-fit player on January 3.
"I can't guarantee he will be a fully-fit player ready for
the African Nations if he leaves on December 27."
