Dowie was appointed the new boss at the KC Stadium following the departure of Phil Brown, but in his first game the Tigers conceded two late goals to go down 3-2 at Portsmouth. Some quarters have been critical of the decision to appoint Dowie, but he admits he can take the hits. "It's been my job to reinforce the message to keep positive, no one wants the manager to be downbeat and glum," he said. "People can write what they like about me, but it's not about me, it's about the players and what they do. "I'm a positive person and I've got big enough shoulders to take it. "I'm happy to take all that pressure off the players. It's up to me and my staff to shield it and let the players go out there and perform. "Football is a game of enjoyment, people forget that sometimes and that's the key." Hull are in big trouble at the bottom of the Premier League and need quick results if they are going to drag themselves away from the drop zone, starting against Fulham on Saturday. Dowie added: "Of course it's difficult under this pressure, but let's hope we send the Hull folk home happy on Saturday night. "The fans that went to Portsmouth saw a positive response and they were magnificent and supported me very well. "They care about the club and they know what it's all about to be in the Premier League. "Their response will be fantastic, I'm sure, but it's up to us to give them a performance that reflects the fans' passion. "They're a passionate, vociferous group of fans and I expect exactly that against Fulham."
