Leicester City v Hull City: High-stakes game requires normal Tigers approach
HULL CITY assistant coach Dean Holden has told his players to treat Tuesday's game at Leicester City just like any other.
Anything less than victory will relegate the Foxes to League One 11 days before the 10th anniversary of winning the Premier League, even if West Bromwich Albion have points deducted for financial reasons.
Only an away win will guarantee a Hull side on their longest winless run of the Championship season go into the final two games in the play-off places they have started 22 of the last 23 matchdays in.
But Holden is not about to change or over-complicate anything now.
"If there were 46 games in front of us and we won all 46, we'd get promoted, wouldn't we?" he said, bluntly. "So why are we thinking about it differently with three games to go?
"We don't have to think about winning three games.
"It'll still be one of the toughest games we've had all season because despite where they are in the league, they've got their own pride, they've got a very slight chance of potentially staying up, they've got future careers (to play for).
"I'm not having anybody tell me they've not got top players in that team, it's just not worked out for reasons I'm not sure of.
"So we have to go there with the right mindset. When we've done that this season, we've competed well and more often than not we've come out on top."
Hull have lost one and drawn three of their last four games, a run that will see Wrexham overtake them by winning at Oxford United if it continues on Tuesday. A Hull defeat would see eighth-placed Derby County leapfrog them by winning at ninth-placed Norwich City.
Adding to Hull's frustration is they were leading their last two games late on against Sheffield United and Birmingham City, yet took their tally of dropped points this season to 21.
"The mood's fine," insisted Holden. "All season we've been able to roll with results and try to keep a consistent way of working.
"We're frustrated a little bit in terms of going in front and not taking the points in some of the games but it is what it is and we're able to refocus quickly and not allow it to seep into the environment.
"There's no, 'We used to be there, a month ago, now we're here.' We just get on with the next challenge.
"There's a steely focus from the players. They know, as much as we try and take the pressure off, we're at the business end of the season now. There's not getting away from it, it's everywhere that you look. You can feel it. Go and embrace it."
It may be that those in the stands at Leicester go the extra mile to support their team in one last hurrah, but equally it could turn angry if they go behind. Hull will not be afraid to try and exploit that.
"We know the strengths that I don't think are going to change too much for this one game," argued Holden. "We know how Gary (Rowett, their manager) operates, how he wants his teams to play.
"He's probably had to adapt his playing style a little bit in terms of the players he's got at his disposal.
"Every team's got strengths and weaknesses and we've got to make sure again that we apply ourselves properly and we make the moments count when we get them.
"I'm sure their support will get behind the team at kick-off.
"We take fantastic away followings. They'll be right behind the boys as usual. We've got to make sure we stamp our authority on the game. What that does to the home atmosphere, we'll have to wait and see.
"But certainly you can use it in your favour.
"It's a psychological edge that you can hopefully gain on the opposition but you can only get that by applying the right gameplan, the right mindset, the right intent."
Regan Slater trained on Monday. Coach Sergej Jakirovic must decide when to bring back the midfielder, out since injuring his ankle against Sheffield Wednesday in March.