Hull City were trailing 4-0 on Boxing Day at Manchester City when manager Phil Brown walked onto the pitch at half time to criticise his players in full view of the crowd. He explained: "It was the right thing to do, there is no doubt about it. I have got no regrets about it whatsoever.

"If it bruised one or two egos then so be it, although it wasn't intended to be that way.

"We were embarrassed, but that wasn't to do with the half-time dressing-down, it was the first-half performance.

"We didn't bring our best game to the table and we got our comeuppance. We can't allow that to happen ever again.

"Hopefully the mentality of the group will be stronger for the experience."