Brown not taking United lightly

Hull boss Phil Brown knows better than to take an under-strength Manchester United lightly - but hopes to surprise the champions on Sunday.

Injury-hit United are again likely to be forced to play with midfielders in their defence as they face Brown's side at the KC Stadium in the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson's makeshift rearguard was exposed in a shock 3-0 defeat at Fulham last weekend but Brown knows all too well United's understudies should not be underestimated.

With a Champions League final to prepare for, United fielded a virtual third-string side in the corresponding fixture last season - and still won 1-0.

That result, on the final day of the campaign, would have relegated the Tigers had Newcastle not been beaten on the same afternoon.

Brown said: "There have been one or two surprises there this year, probably lads in the reserves at the start of the season that didn't think they would get a chance.

"But they are Manchester United players, it is as simple as that.

"They made a lot of changes last year and beat us 1-0, playing some great football.

"We have got to be prepared for that. Whatever comes out of Manchester United's changing room is good enough.

"But we are at the KC Stadium, where we feel we are playing some good football. It's not a fortress yet, that takes time, but we are undefeated in six there.

"We have got to put our best foot forward and perform to the best levels of our ability.

"When you play the Premier League top four you have got to hope they are on an off day but it is an opportunity for us to try to take three points."

Brown expects his players to bounce back quickly from last weekend's 3-0 defeat at Arsenal. The scoreline at the Emirates Stadium was ultimately emphatic and the game was marred by an unseemly fracas involving 21 players, but Brown was pleased with the Tigers' performance. Brown described the decision to charge his club with failing to control their players over the melee as "scandalous" and felt decisions went against them.

"You have got to dust yourselves down," he said. "It is about your response to adversity.

"Our response to a 3-0 defeat is what I am focusing my attention on. We have got to get on with it.

"We are looking for a level playing field. We want to be able to perform as well as we did against Arsenal, a top-four side, and get a fair bounce of the ball and decision-making process."

Brown did admit, however, that Hull did benefit from one generous decision - a penalty award Geovanni failed to take advantage of. He added: "We did get a soft penalty but there was an infringement."

Brown expects veteran Nick Barmby to be fit despite being unable to train throughout the week with the calf injury that curtailed his involvement last week.

The match is presently the last for the likes of Seyi Olofinjana (Nigeria), Daniel Cousin (Gabon) and Kamel Ghilas (Algeria), who will be available before linking up with their countries for the African Nations Cup.

With the tournament in Angola not starting until January 10, Brown is in negotiations to push their departures back, with Olofinjana the player he is especially keen to retain for longer.

Ideally the manager would like the 29-year-old to face Wigan in the FA Cup on January 2 before heading to Africa.

He said: "My argument is quite simple. Seyi Olofinjana played 45 minutes at Arsenal, he could play 90 minutes against Manchester United and 90 minutes against Bolton.

"Then you'll have a Premier League-fit player going to the African Nations as opposed to if he doesn't play and flying out with 45 minutes of work under his belt.

"It makes a lot of sense. It is a win-win situation to me, but I am not the Nigerian Football Federation.

"I am trying to keep him until after the Wigan game and I guarantee the NFF I will give them a fully-fit player on January 3.

"I can't guarantee he will be a fully-fit player ready for the African Nations if he leaves on December 27."