Mowbray accepts underdog tag

Despite finishing above Hull and winning the Championship last term, Tony Mowbray has revealed he believes the Tigers are favourites going into Saturday's clash at The Hawthorns (3pm KO). The Play-Off winners have won their four previous away games in the Premiership and now sit comfortably third in the league.

Phil Brown's men visit The Hawthorns on the back of beating Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham in the last three games with Mowbray admitting the form of the visitors makes them favourites but is sure Albion can claim another home victory.

"Peter Grant went to watch them on Sunday," Mowbray said.

"I look at the results and I know they will come in a confident mood.

"I'm pretty sure they won't come here with any fear.

"It's an interesting fixture because if they'd had the season so far people were predicting, this game would have been seen as must-win game against a team around us.

"Yet, they're sitting third in the league.

"Are we the underdogs? Maybe.

"They've already won three away games.

"But we need to be trying to beat Hull City at home.

"I think our supporters would still expect us to beat Hull City at home, and rightly so.

"We need to be positive.

"But defensively Hull are very strong and don't give much away.

"Despite the three up front scenario they still have a very well-structured defensive set-up.

"We know it will be a tough game and probably no different from some of the other games we've played at home.

"It will be a tight game and hopefully we can win by the odd goal."

Despite being the bookies' and many peoples' favourites to be cannon fodder this season the Humberside outfit have exceeded expectations with Mowbray full of praise for the fellow newcomers.

"You can only congratulate Hull on their start and compliment them on how well they've done," the former Hibs boss added.

"As we've found out, every game is hard in the Premier League and, yet, they've won football matches.

"You could argue they played Newcastle and Tottenham at the stage of the season when those clubs were in turmoil.

"But still you've got to go to those places and win.

"No-one can ever take beating Arsenal at the Emirates away from them.

"They got another good victory against West Ham on Sunday and we know ourselves how difficult it was against West Ham.

"People might say we beat West Ham when they were in turmoil and without a manager.

"You've got to congratulate Hull on some fantastic results.

"We look forward to them coming to us at the weekend."