Horton rules out complacency

Tigers only halfway towards target

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 15th May 2008

Brian Horton

Horton: Focused

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Hull's assistant manager Brian Horton is refusing to get carried away by the club's play-off success.

The Tigers booked their place in a Wembley showdown with Bristol City after securing a 6-1 aggregate semi-final victory over Watford on Wednesday night.

The club are now just one game away from the promised land of the Premier League, but Horton insists that there is still a lot of hard work to come and no-one at the KC Stadium is celebrating just yet.

"Our thoughts are on Bristol City now," he told Sky Sports News.

"You say we've achieved, but we will only think that we have achieved if we win it."

Tension

Hull fell behind to an early opening goal from Darius Henderson during their second leg clash with the Hornets, but recovered well in order to ease to a 4-1 win.

Horton admits that the tension surrounding the occasion affected everyone on the night, but was delighted to see the side reap the rewards of all their hard work.

"It was a fantastic night," he said.

"I didn't think the boys would be that nervous, the crowd were nervous, everybody, and then they score which makes it even more nervous and you think if they score again, but the goal right on half-time from Nicky Barmby settled the nerves and then the half-time team talk worked a treat.

"We asked them to calm down a little bit and try and play some football, and goals make you do that, so the second one saw a great ball from Sam Ricketts and Caleb came on and scored a good header, and that removed all the tension I think."

Top class

The Tigers have never appeared at Wembley Stadium and Horton hopes that the occasion will inspire the players into ensuring they will get to experience more glamorous outings next year.

"We've been telling the players this is what it could be like every week in the Premier League," he said.

"Going to great places, great grounds and doing it in a top class way, which we have been doing to be fair.

"That is credit to the board, the manager has been allowed to do top class things and we've raised the bar."