Leeds United v Hull City: Rosenior looks for derby day boost for Tigers

Both the Tigers and United remained in the bottom three of the Championship following the stalemate two days before Christmas 2006, and were clearly facing an almighty scrap for survival in the New Year.

It was a fight that Hull would ultimately win as Dean Windass's goal at Cardiff City on the penultimate weekend of the season combined with Alan Lee netting a late equaliser for Ipswich Town at Elland Road condemned United to the third tier for the first time.

A little under four years on from that last meeting between the two clubs in West Yorkshire, hostilities will resume tonight with the Hull fans likely to make the trip down the M62 with an acute sense of deja-vu following a hugely disappointing start to the campaign.

Just three wins from the opening 15 games is bad enough but with Hull having found the net just 10 times, the season is, as manager Nigel Pearson conceded in the wake of Scunthorpe United's win at the KC Stadium on Saturday, shaping up to be another long fight against the drop.

One man, however, who insists the club's prospects can change very quickly is full-back Liam Rosenior. And he believes a Yorkshire derby at Leeds could be just what the Tigers need to kickstart their faltering campaign.

The 26-year-old said: "I am looking forward to Leeds because it is all about character and showing what you have got when everything is against you. It is the best game we could hope for.

"Away at Leeds with everything against you and their crowd coming at you, I wouldn't want it any other way.

"That is what football is all about and I definitely won't be shirking.

"As soon as I came off the pitch against Scunthorpe, my head was on Tuesday and the trip to Leeds."

Hull's main problem this season has been scoring goals, their pitiful tally of 10 being matched by only Sheffield United in the Championship.

A lack of attacking quality was evident for much of Saturday's Humber derby with Mark Cullen and Jay Simpson struggling against the Iron defence.

The introduction of Richard Garcia and Nicky Barmby did bring about an improvement to suggest Hull might be better served against Leeds by the pair starting the game.

If such a thought was in Pearson's mind, however, he may have to think again due to 36-year-old Barmby having complained of stiffness yesterday to suggest the best the former England international can hope for against his former club is a place on the bench.

Hull will definitely be without Robert Koren (hamstring), Jimmy Bullard (knee), Caleb Folan (knee), Craig Fagan (groin) and Paul McShane (thigh), meaning there could be a possible recall for Ian Ashbee if Pearson opts to start with a five-man midfield.

Whoever gets the nod, Rosenior is adamant a positive result could make all the difference to Hull's prospects this term and points to his time on loan at Ipswich Town last season as proof of how quickly things can change.

The London-born right-back moved to Portman Road four games into 2009-10 and it was not until another 11 games that Roy Keane's side tasted victory for the first time.

Despite such a shocking start, by the end of the campaign Ipswich had moved comfortably clear of the relegation fight to finish

15th.

He said: "Once we won our first game, things changed. We had performances like the one against Scunthorpe (last Saturday) where the ball just wouldn't go in the net and then Ipswich would concede a last-minute goal.

"It is like I have come full circle, it is crazy.

"We didn't win until the 15th game but, by March, we had moved to within six points of the play-off places.

"Maybe I am lucky to have been in that position because I know how quickly things can change," he said.

"I am not talking about the play-offs now, that is for sure. But we will get our heads right and look to win the next game."

Fifth-bottom Hull have not won in seven outings and go into tonight's derby level on points with the three clubs directly below them in the table, meaning defeat could see Pearson's side slip into the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Despite that, Rosenior insisted: "There are just 15 games gone, you can't be talking about relegation battles.

"I am sure (leaders) QPR aren't talking about promotion just yet and the same goes for teams at the bottom.

"We have got two games in four days (Hull travel to Preston on Friday night) and if we win both of those games people will start talking about pushing up the league towards the top six.

"That is how this league is. It is still tight and there are still plenty of games to go."

Last six games: Leeds United LWLLWW, Hull City DDLLDL.

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).

Last time: Leeds United 0 Hull City 0; December 23, 2006; Championship.