Mike Phelan dismisses Mark Hughes's "fragile" comment

Hull City manager Mike Phelan has said that his team will not be "fragile" when they face Stoke City on Saturday.

After their 6-1 defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, Potters boss Mark Hughes suggested that the Tigers may be struggling for confidence but while acknowledging that his team must show "character", Phelan has insisted that lessons have been learned.

The 54-year-old is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "I don't see why we should be fragile. We learn hard lessons and we've certainly learned a few over the last few weeks.

"But character has to come into it. We're in the big league and the big league demands that your big players turn up and perform. If we do that, more times than not we'll win football matches."

Hull currently sit one point above Stoke in the Premier League table.