Former Hull City boss Phil Brown says Steve Bruce will know how to keep his players calm for their FA Cup semi with Sheffield United.

Southend United manager Brown expects Bruce to draw on his vast experience playing for Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United to keep his players grounded for the biggest game of their careers.

"Steve will know how to keep the pressure from his players," Brown told the Hull Daily Mail.

"If you let the pressure get to you, then the players will see that and they will feel it too.

"You have to protect the players and make it feel like just another game of football.

"The fact they are all but safe in the Premier League takes some pressure off."