Hull City boss Phil Brown insists their clash with Portsmouth is no must-win game.

The Tigers are four points better off but still in the drop zone - and face Pompey in the middle of a crucial run of fixtures which could define their season.

Brown told the Hull Daily Mail: "People will talk about must-win games but I don't think this is one of them.

"Of course you go into every game wanting to win and looking to win. If we were to win, it would give us 10 points from 10 games, a half decent start and back to the drawing board to improve in the next quarter.

"It would make it a big result if we're up to 10 points and Portsmouth have only got three.

"It's a massively important fixture but we're not looking any further."