Rosenior urges Hull to remain calm amid losing run

The Tigers are four points clear of the drop zone but Tuesday’s defeat at Crystal Palace means that, for the first time since August, the Yorkshire club no longer boast a points tally higher than the number of games played.

As a result, the chasing pack are edging ever closer and all the signs point to the relegation battle going right to the wire this season.

With Tottenham Hotspur due at the KC Stadium this weekend, there is no respite in sight for Steve Bruce’s men but Liam Rosenior, something of a lucky talisman for Hull this season, insists there is no need to panic.

“You always have runs like this in the Premier League,” said the 29-year-old defender. “Manchester United had gone four games without winning (this season).

“If that can happen to them, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up. Teams have bad runs. The big thing about this group is how honest everyone is.

“You can’t get too high when things are going well and not too down when they aren’t going so well. You have to look at our performances and they have been decent.

“We play Tottenham on Saturday and have already shown what we can do against them. We could have had two very good results.

“It is another home game and they are probably favourites. That might suit us. We just need to go for it and attack them. What better way to bounce back than by beating Tottenham?”

Hull have already had two titanic battles with Tottenham this season. Both took place at White Hart Lane in October, a controversial penalty seeing the home side triumph 1-0 in the league.

Bruce’s side felt hard done after that loss, just as they did after losing on penalties in the Capital One Cup just four days later.

Those two performances were among the most impressive the Tigers have managed on the road this term. The lack of reward, however, is becoming wearily familiar with Tuesday’s loss at Crystal Palace meaning Hull have claimed just five points from 12 away games in the league.

In seven of those, Hull have also failed to score and with trips to Sunderland and Cardiff City to come in February there has to be an improvement.

Rosenior said: “It is not about our position in the league, it is all about points. That is what the most important thing is.

“The league is congested now. But with the players and staff we have, we will be okay.

“What would be no good is looking at other people to help us out in terms of getting those points. It is about us. The sooner we get to 38 points, the better. We didn’t get the rub of the green against Palace but there wasn’t much wrong with the performance.

“It was a frustrating night. On another night, we could have had three or four goals. We got so many crosses in but the ball just wouldn’t go in.

“We also had a stonewall penalty (when Shane Long fell to the ground under a challenge from Daniel Gabbidon) as well. Everyone could see it was a penalty, everyone in the stadium apart from three men. And then their goal was more or less the only shot Palace had. It took a ricochet off me and went back to the lad.

“He (Yannick Bolasie) crossed it and then the header went back to him (Jason Puncheon) off his own player. That was the only time they caused us a problem.”

The defeat at Selhurst Park followed a similar loss at Norwich City 10 days earlier. With Hull having also been beaten by Liverpool on New Year’s Day and then Chelsea at the KC on January 11, it means 2014 could not have started any worse for the Yorkshire side.

But Rosenior said: “It is four defeats but this is the Premier League. It doesn’t matter who you play, they are tough. You have to be at it to get anything. It isn’t easy.”

Meanwhile, Tigers boss Bruce has scotched talk of a move for Blackpool’s unsettled winger Tom Ince following reports suggesting Hull had been given permission, along with Sunderland, to talk to him.

On the Ince rumours, Bruce said: “No, there’s nothing in that at the moment. We’re not likely to do anything before Friday.”

Hull, not expected to appeal against Allan McGregor’s red card at Palace, have recalled goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic from his loan spell at Leyton Orient.

Hull’s FA Cup tie at Brighton has been switched to Monday, February 17 for television coverage.

Tigers’ run over last 10 games

December 4, Arsenal (A) Lost 2-0: The Tigers are beaten thanks to goals from Nicolas Bendtner and £42.5m man Mesut Ozil.

December 9, Swansea City (A) Drew 1-1: Danny Graham ends his 30-game goal drought against his old club, but Chico Flores levels.

December 14, Stoke City (H) Drew 0-0: A dour stalemate at the KC Stadium.

December 21, West Brom (A) Drew 1-1: Hull go in front through Jake Livermore but are denied by a late Matej Vydra leveller.

December 26, Manchester United (H) Lost 2-3: An own goal from James Chester earns three points for the visitors.

December 28, Fulham (H) Won 6-0: Hull secure their biggest-ever Premier League win in sparking style.

January 1, Liverpool (A) Lost 2-0: The Tigers are comfortably beaten by the high-flying Reds.

January 11, Chelsea (H) Lost 0-2: The hosts show fight, but are ultimately downed by Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres.

January 18, Norwich City (A) Lost 1-0: Hull pay the price for a subdued display, with Ryan Bennett heading in a late winner.

January 28, Crystal Palace (A) Lost 1-0: Jason Puncheon’s goal sees Palace draw level on points with the 14th-placed Tigers, leaving the visitors anxiously looking over their shoulders towards the drop zone.