Blackburn Rovers v Hull City: Hull keen to transfer home form to the road

Where Allardyce would fret about not getting the required result, Brown would exude confidence about what lay ahead. It helped relax Allardyce and, he believes, was a major factor in the duo working such wonders at the Reebok Stadium.

Brown and Allardyce, who also worked together at Blackpool before being reunited at Bolton, will go head-to-head tonight as Blackburn Rovers host Hull City in the Premier League.

And the Hull manager is unequivocal as to how important the result could be come the season's end.

Brown said: "For me, this is the biggest game of the season by a long way. It is one where we go into the lion's den and have to take on a wounded animal.

"The 3-0 defeat at Stoke will have hurt Sam and his players. They will be up for it. They have a tremendous home record, probably among the top 10 in the division, and we will be up against it.

"Blackburn have a certain style of play and they will look to put us on the back foot. We will have to defend set-pieces and cope with their aerial threat."

After the weekend his Blackburn side have just endured, Allardyce could be forgiven for wishing his old mate and his sense of optimism was in the home and not away dugout.

Certainly, good cheer is in short supply at Ewood Park following Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Stoke City. Not only was it the 12th time this season Allardyce's men had failed to score, they also had Chris Samba sent off for a second bookable offence.

Rovers may be sitting mid-table but the natives are becoming increasingly restless about the prospect of being dragged into a relegation battle.

In contrast, Tigers' fans are positively exuding optimism ahead of the trip across the Pennines thanks to their team's highly impressive victory over Manchester City.

Beating the world's richest club has brought renewed belief to the East Riding that survival can be assured for a second consecutive season.

Saturday's win was Hull's third home game in a week but, despite fears over fatigue, Brown may be tempted to name the same team for a third consecutive game after the excellent displays against Roberto Mancini's men and Chelsea.

It means George Boateng, who along with Andy Dawson is expected to recover from a niggling injury, could be in line for his fourth start in 11 days.

That will mean Seyi Olofinjana, who returned from African Cup of Nations duty with Nigeria before the win over Manchester City, having to again settle for a place on the bench.

The trip to Lancashire is the first of three on the road in succession with Hull, who will be without Geovanni after the Brazilian flew to Portugal for an examination of his knee, set to face West Ham on February 20 and Everton on March 7.

Brown said: "With us not having a game due to the FA Cup this weekend and the Aston Villa league game (on February 27) having to be moved for the Carling Cup final, there are not many games in February.

"We come off three good results at home and have to now put our best foot forward away from home.

"We have to get that first win away from home."

For Blackburn, tonight's game is a potentially key encounter with a victory for the away side meaning the Lancastrians would be just a point ahead of the Tigers in the table.

With Allardyce believing an unusually large number of points could be required to stay up this term, the visit of Hull is one the Rovers manager is desperate to win.

He said: "There has been a shift in results this year that, when you look at the matches, may make it closer to 40 points than ever before.

"A lot of the top teams have lost a lot more points than normal and that is why it could be a 40-point mark we need to get to this season."

Tonight's game will be preceded by a minute's silence in memory of John Steven Taylor, the Rovers fan who died of a head wound while attending the defeat at Stoke.

Last six games: Blackburn Rovers LWLWDL, Hull City LDLDDW.

Last time: Blackburn Rovers 1 Hull City 1; August 23, 2008; Premier League.

Referee: L Probert (Wiltshire).