STEVE Bruce has called on supporters and players to "stick together" through the final month of the season as Hull City chase the golden prize of Premier League football.
Second-placed City host Middlesbrough at the KC Stadium this afternoon desperate for a reaction to the damaging 1-0 loss against promotion rivals Watford in midweek.
Victory over Tony Mowbray's side can quickly rebuild a four-point cushion over the Hornets, one surrendered on Tuesday, and also ramp up the pressure ahead of Watford's televised clash at home to Cardiff this evening.
The incentives are huge once again for the Tigers and Bruce is urging a united front when Middlesbrough attempt to block their path this afternoon.
"Supporters are going to get anxious, of course they are," Bruce told the Mail.
"They're going to be as tense as anyone, but my message would be to turn up in their thousands like they did on Tuesday night.
"They're desperate for the team to get promoted. They want to see Man United, Arsenal and Tottenham next season don't they? No question about that.
"We were never going to do it the easy way but it's important to stick together. The edginess will come from all angles in the last six games, it's all part of what you're chasing."
A positive response is imperative from the Tigers this afternoon as they bid to maintain their grip on the second automatic promotion place in the Championship.
Anything less than a victory would leave the door open for Watford to jump up from third but recent history is on City's side this afternoon.
Each of their last five league defeats has been followed immediately by a victory and Bruce sees that as a heartening sign of character.
Asked if his players were enjoying the challenge, the City boss said: "I hope they are. You don't really enjoy it unless you get a result of course, but the philosophy remains the same as it's always been. For goodness sake play and let me do the worrying. Leave all that to me.
"We've got ourselves in a wonderful position and now we have to finish the job off. We certainly know we're capable so let's hope we can.
"Everyone's had a wobble in the last six weeks, thankfully ours has never lasted long. We know there's a good resilience about this team. Results haven't always gone their way but they bounce back time after time."
City's hopes of bouncing back have not been aided by the injury loss of vice-captain Jack Hobbs this week, but Stephen Quinn is fit enough to start following a minor knee injury which ruled him out of starting the last two games.
Corry Evans is also expected to come back in at central midfield, with Alex Bruce reverting to a three-man defence. David Meyler again misses out, serving the second game of a two-match suspension.
• Join our live and interactive coverage of Hull City v Middlesbrough from 2.45pm
• Stephen Quinn: Relax and relish promotion run-in
