Bruce won't ditch Hull City's attacking style

STEVE Bruce has vowed to stay true to his attacking philosophies as Hull City target a return to winning ways at home to Blackpool tonight.

Bruce's reign has met its first period of adversity in the last 10 days with back-to-back defeats against Leicester and Peterborough undermining City's previous run of three consecutive victories last month.

Despite a marked improvement to the Tigers' attacking play under Bruce, with 12 goals netted in five league games during September, signs of defensive vulnerability in a 3-5-2 shape have surfaced during their last two outings.

A Blackpool side known for their razor-sharp cutting edge will be next to challenge City tonight, but Bruce says his side will not stray from their adventurous approach.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

"You have to stay true to your beliefs, of course you do, and I don't want us to change," he told the Mail.

"That's the way I want to set ourselves up.

"I really want to try and change myself. Being up and at them, and being difficult to beat, I've done all that in the Premier League where it was all about survival.

"Then I would work with what I had, but what I've got here suits us to go and say 'Come on then, let's play football and try and win the game.'

"I want to play our way out of it. We might get stung, like we did at the weekend, and we might be open with three at the back, but that's the way I want to do it.

"Up until Saturday, the vast majority of supporters have been pleased with what they've seen.

"We've made mistakes but we'll learn from them. It's still a new team that's adapting to how I want to play."

City's first dip of the season has brought a fall to eighth in the Championship and, according to Bruce, restored a sense of realism.

Three wins on the spin against Bolton, Millwall and Leeds formed an impressive statement from the Tigers, but Bruce believes the weekend loss to Peterborough typifies the division.

"A week or so ago we were having pats on the back all round and that's what I was trying to guard against," said Bruce.

"This is what can happen in the space of a week, especially in the Championship.

"There's 10 teams separated by three points and it's the sides who make least mistakes who are going to be most successful.

"It's not great play, it's eradicating mistakes in your game that gets you up the division."

Like City, Blackpool arrive in East Yorkshire tonight having suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season.

Ian Holloway's men began the season with three consecutive wins to lead the Championship but, despite losing to Huddersfield and Cardiff in their last two fixtures, Bruce believes the Seasiders are the cream of the division.

"This is arguably our toughest test yet," he said. "Blackpool are a really good team and I really like the way they play.

"They are open and expansive but that's the way Ian Holloway sets his teams up, he wants to entertain. They're arguably as good as you get in this league."