Hull City will go for jugular against Derby '“ Steve Bruce

HULL CITY manager Steve Bruce says that his Tigers side will adopt a positive mentality and go for the win in tomorrow night's Championship semi-final second leg with Derby County - even accounting for a decidedly healthy three-goal first-leg buffer heading into the game.
Abel Hernandez celebrates scoring the first goal at Derby on Saturday. (Picture: Tony Johnson)Abel Hernandez celebrates scoring the first goal at Derby on Saturday. (Picture: Tony Johnson)
Abel Hernandez celebrates scoring the first goal at Derby on Saturday. (Picture: Tony Johnson)

The Tigers placed one foot at Wembley with an outstanding 3-0 weekend win in the East Midlands and can afford to lose and still make the play-off final.

But Bruce’s mindset is that his side must show vibrant intent and go for the win to maintain momentum - against a Rams side who won 2-0 in East Yorkshire in the autumn and are the only side to win at the KC in the league this term.

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Bruce said: “Saturday was as good as it gets in terms of performance levels. But Tuesday is another game and Saturday has gone and disappeared.

“It is never over, that’s for sure. And we have seen teams come back in the past, so we have got to be professional and do what we have to do and make sure there’s no complacency and get on with the job in hand.

“It is very difficult to send a team out to draw and we will be positive and try and win the match. That is always going to be our attitude.

“I will make sure we are not complacent and we have to be ruthless in what we are going to do and make sure, by hook or by crook, we are through.

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“It is a great opportunity we have given ourselves. But that is all it is and we have another game of football against a good side who will be hurting and disappointed after what happened on Saturday.

“And they will be wanting to put things right, I am sure. We have to be weary of that and go with the attitude that we did on Saturday. And if we play to anywhere near to where we did on Saturday, we have got an outstanding chance.”

Bruce and his medical staff will assess the fitness of Allan McGregor after the Scottish international missed Saturday’s game at the iPro Stadium with a back injury.

Bruce added: “We will see how McGregor is this morning. But if there’s a risk, then I have got no problem with Eldin at all.

“He’s proved an able deputy. He came in and kept a clean sheet and did very well (on Saturday).”