Portsmouth v Hull City: Dowie is ready to accept the flak in Tigers' cause

The new Tigers manager is certain to be subjected to fierce abuse by the home fans after spending four years with bitter south coast rivals Southampton during the Nineties.

Every former Saints player faces the same treatment at Fratton Park but Dowie, whose in-laws are all staunch Pompey fans, insists the reception could work in his new club's favour.

He said: "My wife (Debbie) was born in Portsmouth and her family are all from down there. My brother-in-law (Lee) is a big Pompey fan and was up watching the Burnley-Pompey game at Turf Moor the other week so will probably still be in good spirits.

"It means there will be split loyalties in the family. My son was actually born in Southampton so I am expecting it to be me, my wife and our two sons against the world.

"But it could work for us as the home fans will be focusing their abuse on me and might leave our lads alone."

On the trip to the Premier League's most old-fashioned ground and the prospect of taking on a team fresh from the imposition of a nine-point deduction during the week, Dowie said: "It will be a cauldron. Adversity can bring togetherness but I want us to go into that gladiatorial environment with cool heads. We have to play with steel but also with control.

"That is the key element when away from home. We have to limit the foul count and defend properly."

Dowie was handed the task of keeping the club in the Premier League last Tuesday after Phil Brown paid the price for Hull having won just five league games all season.

It is the 45-year-old's first managerial job since being sacked by Queens Park Rangers in October, 2008, when the Londoners were seventh in the Championship.

He arrived at the KC Stadium with a decent CV that includes steering Crystal Palace into the Premier League and taking Oldham Athletic to the play-offs.

Survival in the top flight come May would not only make that rsum even more attractive but also earn Dowie the right to pilot Hull through a third season among the elite.

To make that a reality, the new Hull manager knows time is of the essence and he admits that the starting XI for today's game had been selected within a few minutes of being appointed.

He said: "I was offered the job at 11.35pm on Tuesday and I started to pick my first team straight away. I had been at Preston v Sheffield Wednesday working for Sky so had a good think about it on the drive home.

"I have seen Hull in person this season. I was at Burnley in October when Hull lost but, in truth, for much of the game I could only see it going one way and that was Hull winning.

"Unfortunately for Hull, Burnley got the breaks and the points. It showed how goals can change games because Hull played really, really well that day.

"Football can be funny like that. For instance, it always amazes me when I get players to do quick-feet drills over small hurdles and if a player knocks one hurdle over, it is amazing how many times the next player hits the same hurdle."

Today's trip is the first of four back-to-back games which offer hopes of victory and could go a long way towards deciding Hull's fate. It means time is of the essence for Dowie, who admits his priority is instilling belief in his squad after going an entire year without victory on the road.

Dowie, who had been due to cover a La Liga game for Sky Television today, said: "Sometimes, in situations like this, people forget what has got them where they are.

"A lot of these lads are internationals and to do that you have to have a lot of positives. One misplaced pass can lead to people being pilloried but that is not my style.

"I will make mistakes, everyone does. But I am not afraid of trying things. I want my players to do the same. By that, I don't mean (Steven) Mouyokolo doing a Cruyff turn in the box or anything like that. But I do want him to express himself.

"If that means stepping out and playing, so be it. But his team-mates have to cover him. That is the key element."

Portsmouth v Hull City

Team news: Stephen Hunt is hoping to win a recall for Iain Dowie's managerial bow after missing Hull's last two games with a foot injury, while Paul McShane is back after being absent on compassionate leave against Arsenal. George Boateng serves a one-game ban following his dismissal last week, while Kamil Zayatte is out injured. Caleb Folan has returned to the fold after being frozen out by Phil Brown, though Dowie insists the striker must play a reserve game before being considered for a first-team return.

Last six games: Portsmouth WLWWLL, Hull City DWLLLL.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Last time: Portsmouth 2 Hull City 2; November 22, 2008; Premier League.

SkyBet odds: Portsmouth to win 11-10; Hull to win 5-2; Draw 12-5.