Hull City defender Michael Dawson has urged his side to bounce back from their disappointing 3-1 defeat to Swansea City.

The pressure on Hull intensified over the weekend after they suffered a defeat at the hands of the Swans and the setback, allied by the teams around them picking up points, has meant the Tigers currently find themselves only two points above the drop zone in 17th place.

Things are starting to look ominous for Hull but centre-back Dawson has reiterated the fact that the Tigers have the destiny in their own hands while urging his teammates not to go into their shells.

Speaking to the club's official website, Dawson said: "We can't sit around feeling sorry for ourselves.

"It might sound like the same old story but we have to pick ourselves up. We have to start getting results and quickly. We can take something out of the second half on Saturday, but we certainly couldn't take anything from the first half.

"We've got seven cup finals coming up and that is what it all boils down to now. We have to show the mental strength that you need week in and week out in the Premier League. You play for your team and your mate alongside you. That is why you have to give everything.

"Now we have to stand up and show some really big you-know-whats to play with this pressure. We're not the only team playing with this pressure. There are five or six teams playing with this and fighting to stay in this league and we have to make sure we do that."

Steve Bruce's Hull take on seventh-placed Southampton at St Mary's on Saturday.