Kilbane looking to rid Tigers of their 'soft touch' tag

But the Republic of Ireland international believes the battling point earned at Oakwell can help bring about a change in fortune for the club.

Kilbane, whose 72nd-minute equaliser capped a much improved second-half effort from the Tigers, said: "It is a good point. Ultimately, if you are not playing well then you have to get results.

"That is something we haven't done enough of in the past couple of years. We have played well in patches but then when we have been bad we have been really bad.

"We need some more consistency. Our second-half display was a start and more about what Hull City should be about.

"We have to get it right and not be an easy touch. We are a bit of soft touch and easy to play against. Some of the lads touched on that point after the game.

"We need a bit more steel about us and to play like we train as we could then get up the table."

The draw at Barnsley means City have claimed 14 points from as many games since being relegated from the Premier League.

It is a disappointing return and means Hull have moved into the second quarter of the season sitting 20th in the table.

Kilbane said: "We look at the table and it is a concern. It isn't good enough.

"I hope we are not suffering a hangover (from relegation), though the statistics probably show that.

"We have not been playing well. With the players we have here, we should be higher up the table. I genuinely feel we should be in and around the top six."

Hull's first-half display against Mark Robins's side was poor, as was reflected in the criticism that came the players' way from the 998 visiting fans as they left the field at the interval.

By the final whistle, however, the vociferous City supporters were giving their team a standing ovation.

Kilbane said: "The fans as we came off at half-time were not happy, and rightly so.

"Supporters come to games and all they ask is for us to give our all.

"No-one ever goes out looking not to try. I know it can look like that sometimes. But against Barnsley we were second best in that first half.

"We didn't give the fans enough value in the first half. We knew that ourselves.

"It was similar (recently) against Sheffield United, who came and did a job on us, and Portsmouth.

"The manager said a few words at half-time. He wanted us to go out and show a bit more desire.

"After half-time, I thought we lifted our game a few per cent. We looked a really solid side then against a good Barnsley team."

City will assess the extent of the knee injury that left Caleb Folan hobbling for much of the second half, while Nick Barmby's hamstring will also be assessed after the veteran was forced out of the action in the first half.