Hull look to apply pressure with win over Boro

The Hornets’ glee at the final whistle at securing a 1-0 triumph was noted by vanquished Hull and home boss Bruce, who saw his second-placed side’s advantage over their Hertfordshire rivals whittled down to just a point with six Championship games left.

Bruce is mindful that the Tigers would heap the pressure back on Gianfranco Zola’s troops by restoring that four-point buffer with a win over out-of-sorts Middlesbrough tomorrow afternoon. Watford kick off in a tea-time game at leaders Cardiff City.

Bruce said: “Were they celebrating too soon? I don’t know. It is okay celebrating a victory, but there is still six games to go.

“We took notice of that all right. It is a bit too early to be celebrating just yet.

“For us, it is a great opportunity to win our match and put them under a little bit of pressure again.

“It is a big game for us and a very big game for Watford.”

Bruce, adamant that the race for the second automatic promotion position is not a two-way fight between his side and Watford – with Crystal Palace still in the equation – added: “It has come down to a six-game season now and whether or not we can win more, or collect more points than Watford and Palace. It is as simple as that.”

If Hull are to get over the line and secure automatic promotion by May 4, they are likely to have to do so without centre-half Jack Hobbs, who Bruce expects to be out for three to four weeks with an ankle ligament injury sustained against Watford.

Bruce’s squad options had 
already been reduced by season-ending injuries to Sone Aluko, Paul McShane and Joe Dudgeon.

Matty Fryatt is also still lacking match-sharpness after a long spell out with an Achilles injury with his manager reiterating yesterday that he will not rush him back.

Bruce, who confirmed his son Alex will be restored to the centre of defence from his makeshift midfield role for the visit of Boro, said: “We will not know until the end of the season just how badly these injuries have hit us. That is when you can assess how much of a loss these players are.

“We have coped manfully getting this far, but I must say, we could do without any more. The squad, touch wood, has been able to fend it off so far, but we have got five or six out now which is big numbers at this time of the year.

“The pitch has not helped on this occasion. Jack has twisted his ankle badly on it. He might stand a chance towards the end of the season, but we are looking at three to four weeks.”