TIGERS UP FOR SCRAP

WHEN Mike Phelan finally got the Hull job back in October after an audition, not many gave him a prayer of keeping the club in the Premier League. They still don’t. It is not hard to see why, of course, for after starting the season with a bang – beating champions Leicester on the opening day then winning at Swansea a week later – the reality of their plight is beginning to bite hard.

Since that win at the Liberty four months ago, the Tigers have managed just one league victory, against Southampton.

But, amazingly, Hull’s season has not gone up in smoke just yet.

The odds are stacked against them, that’s clear.

But as the Christmas programme approaches Hull have not been cut adrift and are still in there fighting.

Dressing-room spirit is not an issue as the recent single-goal away defeats at West Ham and Middlesbrough showed. Nor is belief and ability – as their run to a twolegged EFL Cup semi-final against Manchester United in January demonstrates.

Quality in numbers is the problem – with Phelan acknowledging he cannot ask for much more from his stars.

“We’ve harnessed everything we possibly can with this group,” said the Tigers boss (above).

“We’ve known from day one the challenge it’s going to be for us to stay in the Premier League.

“Results haven’t gone our way at times, but we’ve still got a fabulous opportunity, because nobody has really pulled out of that area down at the bottom.

“That might happen over Christmas because wonderful results happen during that period, but we’re coming up to a window of opportunity and if we take it we’ve got a great chance.”