Manchester United v Hull City: Team spirit key to any chance of Hull success

The Tigers claimed a point from the visit to Tottenham Hotspur courtesy of an inspired performance by goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and a determined defensive display.

City's efforts were rewarded with a point that took them out of the relegation zone for 24 hours, West Ham United's own goalless draw at Aston Villa on the Sunday nudging the Yorkshire side back down to 18th place.

Due to being knocked out of the FA Cup by Wigan Athletic at the third round stage, Hull are involved in the only Premier League game to take place this weekend and Brown is calling for a repeat of last weekend's heroics.

The Tigers manager said: "We have to take the same togetherness, the same spirit and the same mentality that we had at White Hart Lane last week.

"If we bring that to the table, I think there is a great opportunity for a result to follow.

"There are positives from last season for us having taken United so close at Old Trafford and scoring three goals there.

"But I am not sure there is any such thing as a good time to play Manchester United."

Hull were undoubtedly indebted to Myhill against Spurs with the goalkeeper making eight stunning saves but Brown insists it would be wrong to single out just one player.

He added: "A lot of references were made to Boaz Myhill's performance, but I felt the clean sheet was down to the spirit and the togetherness of the squad.

"We have got a magnificent changing room full of character and experience. That all came to the party last week and something similar has to happen. Old Trafford is an exciting place when the game is flowing and I have no doubt that will happen.

"I would like to see a bit more of a cutting edge from us than we saw at Tottenham, but we have to be at our best defensively first and foremost."

New loan signing Amr Zaki will not feature today so Craig Fagan is again likely to lead the City attack against a home defence featuring Rio Ferdinand for the first time in almost three months.

The former Leeds record signing has been out with a back complaint that dates back to beyond last season's Club World Cup trip to Japan.

Although Ferdinand is bound to be rusty, his presence has been missed and should also allow Ferguson to shunt Wes Brown into the right-back slot against a Hull side who only lost 4-3 at Old Trafford last season.

A victory for United, who have lost to Leeds and Manchester City in their last four outings, would be enough for them to leapfrog above Chelsea and Arsenal to the top of the Premier League.

Ferguson, who may rest Wayne Rooney with Wednesday's Manchester derby in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg in mind, said: "Top of the league is the best place to be.

"Our game is the only one in Premier League so it is an opportunity for us."