Victory the only option for Hull City against fellow strugglers Swansea

The Tigers have an opportunity to not only rein in the rejuvenated Swans but also pile the pressure on Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough, neither of who are in league action due to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

A third win of the season over the Welsh club would lift City above Aitor Karanka’s Boro and reduce Palace’s advantage over the Yorkshire club to a solitary point, albeit with Sam Allardyce’s men having a game in hand.

“We need to win, this is true,” said the Portuguese.

“After the last result (a 3-1 defeat to Leicester City), we need to give an answer against Swansea

“It is a really important game for us and one where we need to get three points.

“We need the supporters with us because, I repeat, we are stronger than the opposition when they are with us.”

Asked if a draw would be a bad result, Silva replied: “Of course. We never think to take one point and to be clear that would be a bad result. You want to win the game and if we draw it will be a bad result.”

With Hull sitting four points adrift of safety – or, effectively, five when Palace’s vastly superior goal difference is factored in – there is clearly a lot of work to do during the remaining 11 fixtures if the Yorkshire club are not to be relegated after just one season back in the top flight.

“My only target is to make sure we get to 24 after the Swansea game,” said Silva when asked if he had a points target in mind to guarantee survival. “We need to take three points and after the game I need to see 24 points.

“We will see, in the future, what will be needed. You never know how many you will need. We need to think game by game and step by step.”