Brown " My Biggest Test"
Facing his biggest test
By Eye Of The Tiger
March 2 2009
Phil Brown says he is facing his biggest test as Hull continue to struggle in the Premiership. The Tigers haven't won in 11 league games and are now only 3 points off the relegation zone. "It's the biggest test of my career in terms of being a manager," said Brown.
"It probably is for the players as well. You look at the Hull City squad and a lot of people say the players have been playing above themselves. We've now got to try and play above ourselves for the last 11 games.
"Yesterday was a six-pointer and there are now only three points between us and Blackburn. It's as simple as that."
"If we minimise mistakes from now until the end of the season, there's a possibility we'll be okay.
"But it has to happen now. There are 11 games to go and we're still in a positive predicament.
"In the first 30 minutes yesterday, the confidence was there and the belief was there. We have to minimise mistakes to keep that belief.
"The mistakes in the first half cost us. Whenever you come up against a Sam Allardyce team, you know they will be well drilled into winning the second ball.
"Thirty minutes into the game, I was quite comfortable. Then they
got a couple of second balls and consequently got two goals
back-to-back which certainly turned the game in their favour."
Brown went onto explain his reason for taking of Geovanni.
"The substitutions were very positive and turned the game towards our favour. Cousin and Barmby had a positive impact on the side and we possibly could have got something from the game.
"Half time came along and I could have made changes then. But because we'd been in control for 30 minutes, I thought we maybe had enough out there. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.
"I didn't think Geovanni was having a positive impact on the game. The match winner on Thursday night was Nick Barmby and I thought it was a chance for him to come on and play in the same position.
"As I saw it, I thought he did have a positive impact on the game."
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"It probably is for the players as well. You look at the Hull City squad and a lot of people say the players have been playing above themselves. We've now got to try and play above ourselves for the last 11 games.
how far above phil?