Brown - Win eased pressure

Phil Brown admits the 2-1 win over Stoke last weekend has eased the pressure on himself and raised the players' confidence.

Despite continued public support from new Hull City chairman Adam Pearson ahead of the Potters clash many expected the game to be Brown's last should the Tigers suffer another defeat.

In the end goals from Seyi Olofinjana and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink overturned an opener from Stoke's Matthew Etherington to secure only their third win of the season and more importantly move them out of the bottom three.

Brown took his rejuvenated side to Italy on Thursday to play a friendly with Serie A side Atalanta to give a host of his first-teamers some much needed match practice during the international break.

"I think less pressure but more confidence where the players are concerned," he said.

Confidence

"When you ask the players to play football you have to play with confidence and today we have seen a little more confidence.

"Hopefully we can carry that into the West Ham game."

The Tigers ended up drawing 2-2 in Atalanta with Richard Garcia scoring twice although Hull eventually succumbed on penalties.

"I thought it was a very good game. Both sides have injuries and international players away," Brown added.

"A lot of young players had a look at the game and I thought it was very entertaining - two very good goals from Atalanta and two very good goals from us."