Brown not relying on United easing off for final

Hull manager Phil Brown admits he can expect no easing off from newly-crowned Premier League champions Manchester United as he prepares his side for a dramatic game on the final day.

The Tigers moved out of the bottom three with a 1-1 draw at Bolton on Saturday and Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham means their fate is in their own hands with United due at the KC Stadium next Sunday.

That is three days before United’s Champions League final date with Barcelona and Sir Alex Ferguson is certain to rest key players.

But Brown believes his team will still face a massive task to overcome the champions, although he was relieved to be out of the relegation zone having slipped into the bottom three when Newcastle beat Middlesbrough last week.

“It slipped out of our hands after the Newcastle game and it’s not a nice feeling,” Brown said.

“But it’s back in our hands having to face the champions and there will be suggestions about weakened sides but nobody does you any favours in the Premier League.

“You have to fight and scrap for every point, every win or goal that you get. We were dumped in the bottom three by Newcastle and I’ve been proud of the way they responded.

“We could quite easily name two teams, maybe even three, that Sir Alex could put out and that’s the level of the quality that he’s demanded over the last 22 years.

“There won’t be any easy game next week. It will be a tough game.

“Yes, he’s got an important game three days later but this is more important for us and we’ve got to commit ourselves to every inch and try to get something from the game against the champions.

“I’ve got nothing but praise and admiration for what Sir Alex and Manchester United have done this year and it’s a fantastic achievement.”

Brown’s side have won just twice in 28 games but he is pleased that their fate is still in their hands going into the final round of fixtures.

He added: “The Premier League has been so exciting all year and we’re still in it and we’ve still got a chance.

“It will be a tough game, tough preparations, tough week, but the rewards are great.”

Bolton have only just secured their Premier League safety but their manager Gary Megson believes it is an achievement that should be applauded.

He also feels that his team’s long way wait for safety has been a frustration.

He said: “We’ve had a cushion to the bottom three and we’ve taken our foot off the gas and we’re not a team that can play like that.

“We just look a yard slower than we were a month ago but we were playing with the pace and intensity 10 or 11 weeks ago.

“The end of the season is time for reflection and we’re a team that are the fourth lowest spenders, we’ve used 18 players and the players on our bench cost us 37,000 pounds and we’ve managed to stay in the Premier League.”