Challenge Cup final could dent Hull City attendance

Hull City manager Steve Bruce has admitted that he expects the attendance at the KC Stadium for this weekend's match against Norwich City to be negatively affected by the city's rugby league exploits.

At the exact same time that the Tigers kick off first home Premier League game of the season, Hull FC face Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley.

Bruce's Hull had asked Norwich to delay the match by 24 hours, but the Canaries, who had already organised 25 free supporters' coaches to travel to Humberside, refused.

"I am sure there are people caught between supporting the rugby team and supporting the football team," Bruce told reporters.

"People will still come out and support us though, of course they will, but we are mindful that half the city will be going down to Wembley for the rugby and we wish them the best of luck.

"For the city itself, people here find it tough. It's a real tough working class city and people find it hard to make a trip to Wembley or buy a ticket to a Premier League game so they deserve a bit of success."

Hull have won the Challenge Cup on three previous occasions. Their last victory came in 2005.