Relaxed Barmby happy to tackle challenge of Saints

The presence of the Tigers in and around the play-offs since September has seen to that, as has boasting the best defensive record in the Championship.

Not even the abrupt departure of Nigel Pearson to Leicester City as winter started to bite has been able to derail Hull, who since then have been led in admirable fashion by Nick Barmby.

An 11-game unbeaten run that City will look to extend tonight when leaders Southampton head north only serves to underline the impressive job the former England international has done to ensure a seamless change at the top.

All challenges have been met head-on, which is why the visit of the Saints to the KC Stadium is such an intriguing prospect as Hull prepare to take on a side who Barmby believes are top of the table on merit.

“Southampton have certainly had the consistency,” said the Tigers chief ahead of his side tonight looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat at St Mary’s in what was only his third game in charge. “And, for me, they are the best side so far. But it is up to us to exploit any holes and any weaknesses.

“Every team has one and it is up to us to find it. It is a fantastic fixture for us to have a shot at the league leaders.

“We ran them close down at St Mary’s, other than during a slack 10 minutes (when Saints scored through Guilherme Do Prado and Adam Lallana in reply to Robert Koren’s first-half strike).

”It is a great challenge to have another crack at them. Hopefully, the stadium will be buzzing and bouncing because the fans have a very important role to play, just as much as us on the pitch.

“If we can get the atmosphere going against the league leaders, it will be rocking and the players will respond.”

Southampton will arrive at Hull in buoyant mood after coming from behind to beat Millwall via two late penalties from Ricky Lambert on Saturday.

Following on from a run of seven games that had yielded 17 points, the dramatic manner of the 3-2 win at The Den means Nigel Adkins’ side are now the favourites to win automatic promotion.

A key part of their continued success just a year after winning promotion from League One has been the form of Lambert, who is now comfortably on his way being crowned the second tier’s top scorer.

Barmby added: “When you have got a guy who has scored 28 goals, it certainly helps. To have scored that many goals in any division is a great achievement.

“As well as Lambert, they have also got some really good players. The boy Lallana is a very good footballer.

“It is a great challenge for our back four again. They relish the challenges, week in and week out, and they don’t come any bigger than this.”

City’s defensive solidity – they have kept 17 clean sheets and let in just 28 goals in 36 games, the best in the Championship – will be tested tonight. So, however, will the resilience of Southampton, who will be well aware just how impressive the Tigers were a week ago tonight when thumping promotion rivals, Cardiff City.

Barmby said: “We have got to exploit them. They believe in their system and don’t change for anyone.

“That is the right thing to do for me and they’re very resilient. Look at Saturday (against Millwall) where they are 2-1 down with five minutes to go and yet go on to win 3-2.

“That suggests they have got huge belief there. That is what we’re trying to get into our team. You back yourself at all times against whoever you’re playing.”

When Hull travelled to St Mary’s in November, the home side had won their last 18 league games on home soil.

For a time, it seemed that run would come to an end only for a loss of concentration by the visitors to allow the Saints to hit back and claim yet another three points.

Barmby added: “We have got to look for a similar performance but to concentrate for the full 90 minutes.

“If we do that, we are in with a really good chance of getting something from the game. It is a great opportunity for us to see how far we’ve come as a side.

“I think we have progressed and that is shown in our results. In games where opposition sides have had a lot of pressure, we have been resilient and ground out results.

“It can still get better because we are not the finished article. But as long as the players are responding and learning, we will stay on the right track.”

Corry Evans is fit after a slight hamstring strain forced the Northern Ireland international out of the action during Saturday’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace and is in the squad.

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Last six games: Hull City DDDDWD, Southampton WWWDWW.

Last time: Hull City 5 Southampton 0; March 15, 2008 ; Championship.

Referee: D Webb (County Durham).