Hull boss tells players to forget Ireland farce
Hull boss Phil Brown has no doubts his trio of Irish players will be fully focused on club matters this weekend.
Kevin Kilbane, Paul McShane and Stephen Hunt were all involved with the Republic of Ireland side whose World Cup dreams were shattered in controversial circumstances by France on Wednesday.
Brown sympathises with all three but the Tigers face West Ham in a crucial Barclays Premier League clash tomorrow and the manager expects his players to be back on their game.
He said: "They have obviously had their disappointments over what happened on Wednesday.
"Our thoughts go out to the Irish team in the manner they were defeated but they have got a job to do back at Hull City.
"I would have no qualms or hesitation about all three coming back in good spirits.
"They're very experienced lads, all three of them.
"You sometimes forget Paul McShane is only 23 - he carries a wealth of experience.
"And putting an arm around Kevin Kilbane, 102 international caps? I don't think he'll take too kindly to that.
"I think he'll understand our situation and focus fully on the game on Saturday."
Hull go into tomorrow's game at the KC Stadium with spirits lifted after a crucial victory over Stoke in their last outing a fortnight ago.
The Tigers came from behind to win 2-1 and not only pull themselves out of the bottom three, but possibly keep Brown in his job.
Brown's position had been under heavy scrutiny going into the game after just three previous league wins in 2009.
"It was everything we always call for," said Brown. "There was an awful lot of hype and negativity surrounding ourselves and the game and we turned that into a massive positive.
"The response of players and fans was outstanding on the day.
"But taking the heat off? I don't particularly want to make reference to any of that.
"As far as I was concerned it was the type of performance we were looking for.
"Hopefully we can revisit that performance against West Ham."
Hull travelled to Italy for a friendly against Atalanta after the Stoke victory but have since had a quiet week in readiness for a testing run of three games in eight days.
Tomorrow's match is followed by a visit from Everton in midweek before a trip next weekend to Manchester City - scene of Brown's infamous half-time team-talk last season.
Brown said: "We are going into this game with better preparation, better mentality and a better mindset in addressing a Premier League game.
"When we went to Atalanta I was looking at the body language and it was quite upbeat.
"Hopefully there will be more of that tomorrow.
"We have got a week to go before we go back to Eastlands and everyone will be identifying what we did at Eastlands last year.
"But we have got a couple of games at the KC and if we get a point or points out of each of them we go to Eastlands in a fresh frame of mind.
"I don't want to get too far ahead. After Saturday we will start to look at the week ahead."
Hull and West Ham are separated by just one place and one point, either side of the safety line, at the bottom of the table.
Victory would obviously give Hull a huge lift but Brown is expecting a stern examination first.
Brown said: "Every time I have watched West Ham I have been impressed with the way they play football.
"I think Gianfranco Zola has got a tremendous attitude towards the game.
"That is something you have to battle against, they have been unfortunate in a lot of games.
"We have got to put our best foot forward with regard to defence and make sure we apply ourselves when we have got the ball.
"And the main ingredient is keeping that spirit we had against Stoke."
Playmaker Geovanni is available again after suspension and could line up alongside fit-again record signing Jimmy Bullard, who made a significant difference against Stoke.
Brown said: "We aren't a one-man band but he has an infectious habit of getting everyone around him playing the same way.
"If you have eight, nine or 10 joining the party then you have a chance of winning the game."
