Thursday 13 April 2017 17:33, UK
Hull boss Marco Silva has warned his players they cannot rely on home form alone during their final six Premier League matches if they are to escape relegation.
The Tigers, who are two points above the drop zone and travel to Stoke City on Saturday, are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions at the KCOM Stadium under the Portuguese coach.
They have won five of their past six home league games, but their solitary success on the road this season came at Swansea in August and Silva feels his side must take points from their remaining trips to Stoke, Southampton and Crystal Palace.
"Sure, this is my feeling and I've passed this on to the players," he said.
"All of our games are important and next season it's important, if it's at home or away, to take as many points as possible.
"Our next game is away and we need to change the situation and we will do our best to be competitive during the match and take points."
Silva will assess the fitness of defender Harry Maguire, who remains doubtful due to a knee injury which kept him out of last week's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City, despite returning to training on Wednesday.
Right-back Omar Elabdellaoui remains sidelined with a back problem, but striker Dieumerci Mbokani is back in contention after missing the past six games due to a hamstring problem.
Their opponents Stoke, who have finished ninth in the Premier League in each of the past three seasons, have lost their past four including home games against Chelsea and Liverpool, but Silva played down their poor run of form.
Silva said: "We respect Stoke. Sure it's a hard game for us.
"Of course, the last results for them are not the best as well, but what is important is our performance and the way we prepare.
"If it's coming at a good moment or not because of Stoke's (recent) performance is not the most important."
