Dowie - It's about us

Tigers boss urges players to concentrate on their own fate

By Carla Hilton   Last updated: 19th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Dowie - It's about us

Dowie: Portsmouth challenge

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New Hull City boss Iain Dowie says his side will have only their own future in mind when they visit beleaguered Portsmouth on Saturday.

Pompey are rock bottom of the table and all-but relegated following their nine-point deduction which leaves them 17 points from safety.

Their fate looks certain to lie in the Championship, but Hull's destiny remains unknown.

The Tigers are second bottom in the Premier League and three points from safety leading in to a tricky run-in.

With nine games left to play, Dowie has urged his players to ignore Pompey's fate and instead focus on pulling out of the mire.

Let's concentrate

Dowie admits he has a lot of respect for those connected with the South Coast outfit after an unforgettable season.

He has urged his players, though, to concentrate on their own game in order to avoid a similar fate.

"I'm not sure how much of an effect that (the deduction) will have simply because they have known it's coming," he said.

"You have to admire what they have done - the fans have gone there in great numbers and watched them."

Concentrating on the matter in hand, he said: "I think it's about us, I've got great admiration for the job Avram Grant has done there and the way the players have responded.

"But it is how we go there and perform and how we embrace that challenge."

Lions den

"I want to go into the Lions' den," said Dowie. "I want it to be a pressure-cooker atmosphere, I want to embrace that and I want my players to enjoy it.

"But we must keep our discipline and, when we get a chance, play and pass because we've got players who can certainly do that."

The Tigers have failed to win an away game in more than a year but Dowie is confident he can bring about an end to that dismal run.

"I think in particular the game against Portsmouth is a fantastic opening game," he said.

"Maybe you'd have liked it at the KC Stadium but I am looking forward to that.

"Everyone knows about the away form but that is something we have to address and what better place to start than at Portsmouth."