We Will Cope

Delaney confessed that the City players only had themselves to blame after a disappointing 2-1 away defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion which has seen Hull dragged back nearer the relegation battle.

However, Delaney believes the team can pick up enough points over Christmas and New Year in order to move closer to safety.

The Tigers visit Crewe on Boxing Day, entertain Ipswich on December 28 and then play Yorkshire rivals Leeds United and Sheffield United before facing Aston Villa in the FA Cup.

Delaney was one of only a few players to come out of the Brighton match with any credit, and has adopted to his new central midfield role well in the past three games.

We’ve allowed ourselves to be sucked back into the battle but there’s no point moaning. We’ve only ourselves to blame.

‘If we’d won, we’d be nine or 10 points clear of relegation. I wouldn’t have said we’d have been safe but it would have been a real healthy gap.’

‘Now, we’re closer to it so we’ve got to get results over Christmas and New Year. We’re going to Crewe on Boxing Day which is the start of a hard run but there is nothing easy.’

‘We’re in this division for a reason and there’s no reason why we can’t go and get the points from Christmas and the New Year. Crewe will be tough and then it’s a vicious run – Ipswich, Leeds, Sheffield United and then Villa in the cup.’

‘It doesn’t get much harder. We’ve got to battle and we’ve got to get the points.’

Taylor is poised to make changes after the defeat at Brighton which ended the team’s four game unbeaten run. Taylor labeled the defending as ‘poor’ and is sure to work in training before the Crewe match.