NICK Barmby has called on Hull City to hunt down their promotion rivals with a win against Bristol City today.

City slipped out of the play-off pack for the first time since early December when last weekend's trip to Portsmouth fell victim to the cold snap.

With a game in hand on all six sides above them, the Tigers remain well positioned to challenge for a return back to the Premier League.

Barmby, who turns 38 today, says he is content to see others get the headlines for now.

But he wants his side to now prey on the slip-ups of their rivals and make a quick return to the Championship's top six.

"Nothing has really changed but the challenge and enjoyment now is to chase teams down," said Barmby.

"I loved that as a player, keeping pressure on the teams above you. You want teams to be looking over their shoulders at you and thinking 'they're coming, they're coming.'

"That's a fantastic challenge for us to relish and I know the lads are of the same opinion.

"Our form is good at the minute, we shouldn't forget that.

"As long as we keep under the radar, we'll let other clubs do all the talking about what they're going to do."

City entertain Bristol City on the back of a three-game unbeaten run in the Championship, having taken seven points from nine against Peterborough, Reading and Doncaster.

The Tigers' most recent outing, a 0-0 draw with Doncaster at the KC, was the trigger for some fans to vent their frustration having spurned the opportunity to see off lowly visitors.

Bristol City, who sit six points above the bottom three, represent another inviting chance for three points but Barmby has urged caution among supporters.

"We don't underestimate any team," he said. "Not once have we looked at a game and thought it was a banker.

"The minute you start even thinking that, you're going to get beaten.

"It would be disrespectful to underestimate any side in this division because they're all capable of beating one another.

"I'm sure certain fans will turn up expecting a win but football doesn't work like that.

"The majority of supporters here know not to expect a win every week. They're educated and they're not daft.

"The fans will come here seeing a side that will be going all out to win a game, as they do every week."

Barmby will send his side out against a Bristol City markedly different from the one that held them to a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate in September.

Derek McInnes has replaced Keith Millen to inspire a climb up out of the bottom three but wracked by injuries and suspensions, they arrive in East Yorkshire with a badly-depleted squad.

Barmby added: "It was one of the last games of the previous manager's reign when we played them but I've always found them to be a difficult side to beat.

"We've had them watched and we know exactly what they're about.

"They've had a couple of indifferent results lately and hopefully we can capitalise on that."

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