Tigers must respond like wounded animal says boss Dowie

The Tigers are four points adrift of Premier League safety after last weekend's dismal KC Stadium showing against Burnley.

Brian Laws's side arrived in Hull on the back of a thrashing against Manchester City and still searching for their first away win of the season, but came from behind to triumph 4-1 and move above their opponents.

Now Dowie wants his side to show similar fight as they look to break their own away duck.

He said: "Goals change games and change the fragility of people's confidence. The second half was abject in terms of our response, in terms of the way we passed it; our ability to come back from disappointment wasn't good enough and our all-round play wasn't of a standard I expect or will accept.

"I had a chat with the lads after the game in more heated terms and another chat on Tuesday in more reflective terms but still with a huge amount of anger and disappointment.

"They had to be told what I expected of them, what I expect going forward and the extent of what it means to the region to stay in the Premier League.

"There's been an edge to training. I like people who come with a positive attitude and also train with a real intensity.

"It must be a huge response from us. At 3pm we need to show we're a wounded animal, play with a great deal of intensity under pressure. Burnley had a response and we must have a similar one."

Dowie denied he and his staff had been summoned to a meeting with chairman Adam Pearson but revealed he will make changes to the side – turning to players he believes will show the required fighting spirit.

"Where we go is we get back to playing with desire, playing with care, playing with a degree of quality, playing to our game plan but playing with our eyeballs out.

"Nothing will stop us out-working Birmingham, no one can stop us out-running Birmingham, out-heading Birmingham, out-tackling them.

"Hopefully, as we've shown against Fulham and Portsmouth, we can play as well. But that's the key element – win the battles that we control and hopefully our football will out."