Bruce is confident Tigers’ roar will be heard sooner not later

Most revolve around the Tigers’ inability to hold on to a lead, no less than five winning positions having been surrendered in the opening dozen matches.

But there are other imponderables that, to Hull minds, have proved just as costly this term, including questionable refereeing decisions, such as the incorrectly awarded throw-in that led directly to Stoke City equalising at the KC in August, and a tendency to concede late goals.

Supporters and players alike have been pondering since the weekend loss to Tottenham Hotspur that if Hull had negotiated these potential pitfalls, their league position would surely look a lot healthier.

As it is, Steve Bruce’s men sit just above the relegation zone with 11 points from their 12 outings.

Worryingly, this is an identical record to the one Phil Brown’s Tigers had at this stage of 
2009-10, a campaign that ended with the Yorkshire club being condemned to the drop.

Adding to the anxiety levels around the East Riding is that this position has every chance of getting worse before it gets better with back-to-back away games coming up at Manchester United and Everton.

If Bruce, however, is worried then he is not showing it.

The 53-year-old, a veteran of many a successful fight against relegation in the Premier League, is adamant that Hull’s points tally is not a fair reflection of performances and that results will take a turn for the better soon.

“I am not concerned because of how well we have played,” said Bruce to The Yorkshire Post when asked about the Tigers having won just two games this season. “It will turn around for us.

“We could quite easily be five, six or seven points better off. But it was not to be, and we have got to stick at it.

“Spurs was the latest last-minute goal we have conceded, but how can I fault the players? Their effort was there for everyone to see.

“Plus, we have players back now from injury. It would have been easy for me to make an excuse of it, but you need a bit of luck in that department.

“We lost (Robert) Snodgrass to a serious injury (on the opening day). Allan McGregor had a big one, Michael Dawson injured his ankle and, of course, (Nikica) Jelavic injured his knee. That needed an operation.

“Our big players need to stay fit. Ideally, I would love to have taken Jelavic off after 60 or 70 minutes, but I wasn’t able to do it.

“I believe, though, if we keep playing the way we did against Spurs – and show the same attitude – then we will be okay.”

Hull have, by common consent, the most talented squad in the club’s history.

Performances have, at times, underlined this point. Results, though, are yet to match up with the only maximum points hauls having come on the opening day at QPR and then the October 4 victory at home to Crystal Palace.

For Bruce, this is a major frustration.

“Every manager in the Premier League,” he said, “will come in and say, ‘We could be this, we could be that’.

“But it is what it is and, after 12 games, we are below par. We have only got 11 points, which isn’t good enough.”

Hull’s points tally may be identical to the corresponding stage of 2009-10, but there is one big plus in the current crop’s favour.

Namely a goal difference that reads minus two as opposed to minus 15 five years ago, Brown’s side having lost heavily to Liverpool (6-1), Spurs (5-1) and Sunderland (4-1).

Bruce’s men may have just three clean sheets to their name this term, but they have been in every game right until the closing stages, with even Manchester City’s 4-2 win at the KC in September only being sealed by an 87th-minute goal by Frank Lampard.

Hull’s next four games could test that resolve – they also travel to leaders Chelsea on December 13 – but Bruce points to the battling draws at the Emirates and Anfield as proof that his side will be able to cope.

He added: “In this particular run of games over the last few weeks, we have been to Liverpool and we have been to Arsenal and, while the points total is what it is, I am convinced we have got a good enough squad to cope with the rigours of the winter ahead.

“I am sure we will be okay. We would all love to be in the top half of the table but we are not.

“But, then again, we are Hull and we are only in our second consecutive season (in the Premier League).

“We always knew it was going to be difficult. There are teams that have been here year-in and year-out who we are playing against – like Spurs – so we have got to just keep on believing that what we are doing is right.”

Bruce, whose side also host West Brom in their next four games, said: “In my experience, every game is a big game.

“We have got big names who we play soon.

“We have got Manchester United, we have got Everton, we have got Chelsea.

“But, once we have been to those clubs, we have been. We don’t have to go back there. So, let’s get it done and dusted.”