HULL boss Phil Brown is urging his players to ‘‘play a bit more football” as they look to get back to winning ways against Middlesbrough.

The momentum from the Tigers’ superb start to life in the Premier League has slowed over the past month and the club go into the clash at the KC Stadium without a win in six games.

Brown was disappointed not to earn more than a 1-1 draw from last week’s visit to Stoke and felt his side allowed Tony Pulis’ men to impose too much of their own style on the game.

He expects a different approach from Gareth Southgate’s Boro and hopes that allows his side to flourish.

Brown, who celebrated two years in charge at Hull on Thursday said: ‘‘We have had opportunities in the last two or three games to win.

‘‘We have come away with points from them, against very good opposition, namely in Portsmouth and Manchester City.

‘‘But the point at Stoke last week could have been three and that is the most disappointing part of it. I thought we got sucked into the wrong type of football.

‘‘That is Stoke’s tactics and I am not arguing against that, I just want our players, when we do get possession, to get the ball down and play a bit more.

‘‘Middlesbrough are a threat going forward, they have a number of players who can cut you open at any time.”