The KC Stadium, Tuesday January 29, 7:45pm

The Sky Blues make a swift return to the Championship tonight when they make the long trip north to Hull City.

Iain Dowie's men will be looking to halt a run of five defeats from their last six outings in the league and build on Saturday's FA Cup victory over Millwall at the Kingston Communications Stadium, where they boast a 100% record.

City have won both of their two previous visits to the newly built stadium - the first of which saw a spectacular overhead-kick from Dennis Wise and a goal from Stern John with his chest earn a 2-1 win after Stuart Elliott had given the home side a first-half lead.

Last season saw a late goal from Kevin Thornton - the Irishman's first senior goal - secure a 1-0 victory back in August 2006.

But since then, Hull are a much changed outfit.

Having won back-to-back promotions from League Two and One in 2003 and 2004 respectively under Peter Taylor, they have firmly established themselves as a Championship club over the last two campaigns.

Now the target is to go one better and former Derby boss Phil Brown is the man dealt the task of turning the Tigers into potential play-off contenders.

After almost two weeks without a game - a trip to Colchester was postponed before an FA Cup third round defeat against Plymouth meant they were out of action on Saturday - the Tigers go into the fixture against the Sky Blues in 12th position in the Championship, six points adrift of the top six.

Consistency is the key to success in 2008 and Brown's side certainly boasts enough talent to force their way further up the table.

Jay-Jay Okocha, despite his 34 years, remains one of the finest footballers outside the top-flight and, if he can stay fit, will be a key component for the Tigers.

As will striker Dean Windass, pictured right, who tops the Tigers scoring charts with eight goals this season despite turning 39 in March.

The Gaffer

Phil Brown took over at the KC Stadium on a permanent basis in November 2006 following a successful spell as caretaker boss and guided the Tigers out of the relegation zone.

After several years as Sam Allardyce's assistant at Bolton, his first taste of management came when he succeeded George Burley at Derby County in June 2005.

However, Brown lasted just over six months at Pride Park before being dismissed after a disappointing run of results.

Born in South Shields in 1959, he took his first steps into the professional game when he signed youth forms with Hartlepool just before the beginning of the 1978/9 season. After 210 games for the club he moved, on a free, to Halifax Town where he played a further 135 games.

He joined Bolton in 1988 and made 334 appearances for Wanderers before crossing over to Blackpool, where he ended his playing career in 1994.

Star Man

Hull moved quickly to secure the services of on-loan striker Fraizer Campbell until the end of the season shortly after the January transfer window re-opened.

The striker has made a big impact since moving to the KC Stadium in October, scoring six goals in 14 appearances.

The Huddersfield-born star, 20, is an agile striker with pace and determination, who possesses the ability to poach goals and create them himself through his speed and skill.

He was a second-half substitute during the Sky Blues' 2-0 win at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup back in September - his second first-team appearance after making his debut as a sub in the Manchester derby a month earlier.

Campbell was top scorer for the Academy Under-18s as a first year scholar in 2004/05, scoring 14 goals in 22 starts before helping United's reserves to Premier Reserve League, Play-off shield and Manchester Senior Cup treble.

He hit 21 goals on loan at Royal Antwerp in Belgium last season and a double against Barnsley added to by further strikes against Preston, Leicester, Charlton and most recently Wovles are clear signs that he is beginning to realise his huge potential.

Last Time We Met

Coca Cola Championship Saturday August 18

Coventry City 1 Hull City 1

Nick Barmby cancelled out Leon McKenzie's opener as 10-man Hull got their first point of the season in the pouring rain at the Ricoh Arena.

After a first-half that was as dull as the weather the game burst into life six minutes after the restart when McKenzie opened the scoring for the Sky Blues.

The striker was on hand to head home Kevin Kyle's pin-point cross.

Barmby restored parity when he headed in Michael Turner's cross before Sam Ricketts saw red for a second booking.

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