TWENTY three years may have separated Brian Horton's two promotions with Hull City, but he believes a successful formula will never change when the moments of reckoning arrive.
"They can't worry about anyone else," said Horton. "I don't think you can worry at all. That's not a word anyone should be using. Everyone should be thinking positively and without a worry in the world."
As the player-manager that guided the Tigers out of Division Three in 1984-85 and the assistant boss to Phil Brown in City's watershed season of 2007-08, Horton is fully aware of the task facing Steve Bruce's men this week.
A win at home to Cardiff this weekend will guarantee the Premier League returns to East Yorkshire after a three-year absence. Anything less and third-placed Watford, just a point adrift, will be there to pounce.
As such, the KC Stadium will not be a place for the faint-hearted on Saturday lunchtime. A weekend defeat at Barnsley only added intensity to the occasion and Horton admits the battles that need to be won are all in the mind.
"It's a nervous time, you can't get away from it, because this could be the biggest game in the club's history now," he said.
"It probably edges Wembley because they're going for automatic promotion and there's that bit more money at stake in the Premier League now.
"I've been in this type of situation on the final day both with relegations and promotions, and the big thing is just to try and relax the players.
"Steve Bruce has been there many times and he'll have a good idea what is needed.
"It's important to take the players' minds off it as much as you can. It's not about training or fitness now, it's more psychological."
This Saturday's crucial meeting with Cardiff will coincidentally fall on the 28th anniversary of City clinching promotion under Horton with a 1-0 win at Walsall.
That triumph at Fellows Park, with hometown boy Pete Skipper the hero, spared any final day dramas but the pressure could hardly have been greater when Horton helped Brown guide the Tigers to a Championship play-off final against Bristol City five years ago.
Dean Windass' unforgettable volley at Wembley eventually secured all concerned a place in club folklore, and while Horton accepts Bruce will have a key role to play this week, the 64-year-old says the ultimate responsibility will rest with the players.
"In 2008 we had a good group and we were on a roll," he added. "I don't think anyone wanted to play us. There was no way I felt we were going to lose at Wembley.
"I saw Steve's interview after the Barnsley game and you can't hide the fact that it's not worked out for them how they'd like.
"Steve, with his experience as a player and a manager, has been there, seen it and done it. Players look at the staff for that leadership but it's a joint thing this week.
"You'll have heard it said many times, but once the players step over the white line at 12.45pm on Saturday, that's when it's all about the players. The manager can't do anymore."
Bruce was again forced to admit his troops were not handling the heat as well as he would like after a meek surrender to lose 2-0 at Barnsley.
The City boss had attempted to relieve the tension with a trip to Hornsea last week following the 0-0 draw at home to Bristol City, but the Tigers appeared wracked by doubt at Oakwell.
Horton has been under similar scrutiny as a player. He recalls the 1982-83 season when Luton Town held their nerve to win at Manchester City to preserve their top-flight status, a triumph that famously had David Pleat rejoicing on the Maine Road pitch.
"Every player is different, some will cope better than others," he explained.
"I can remember when I was at Luton, when we had to beat Man City to stay up, and I asked the manager if we could go and play golf on the Thursday as the players were getting so nervous.
"We hardly trained and that took the pressure off us. The biggest thing sometimes is just to take the focus away from it. If all you're thinking about all week is the game, that can take its toll.
"It's in their hands and I think they'll do it," added Horton.
"They've just got to focus on going out to win the game and that will help them. Sometimes if you go out needing just a point, that can work against you."
