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Stern John knows just what to expect from Phil Brown's Hull side today.


The Trinidad and Tobago international played under the Tigers boss during his seven-game loan spell at Derby in 2005-06 when Brown was in charge.

After last season's successful battle against relegation, Hull have made a decent start to this campaign with many of their fans now believing they can push for promotion.

They are ahead of Saints on goal difference and John knows it will be another difficult afternoon against well-drilled opposition.

He said: "I know Phil Brown and his teams work hard so it is not going to be be an easy game for us.
"He is a decent young manager coming into the game and he has worked under Sam Allardyce for a couple of years.

"He knows the ins and outs of the game and how to set his team out to get a result.
"No team is going to lie down and let us walk all over them. They will come here and work hard and we have to be ready for that."

That is something Saints have to get used to with teams coming to St Mary's looking for a point with Sheffield Wednesday gaining a goalless draw here in midweek.
It was a frustrating night for George Burley's men but John is confident they can cut through the Hull ranks today if they continue to show the same spark.

He added: "We came out of the traps quickly against Sheffield Wednesday - and we will have to have that same mentality today.
"But this time we need to get the early goal. If we do that then I think we are capable of beating teams by four or five.

"Most of the visiting sides come to St Mary's looking for a point. They play with two banks of four and often one up front and it is up to us to break them down.
"We have the quality and the team spirit to do that. Hopefully we can break down Hull and get the result we really need to get into the top half of the table."

John has looked sharp, scoring twice in the last four games and having two more efforts disallowed for tight offside decisions.

He said: "I feel sharp. I am getting fitter with every game and I feel comfortable in this side which plays to my strengths, knocking the ball in to my feet or chest.

"I feel have struck up a good partnership with Bradley Wright-Phillips but I am could also play alongside any of our other strikers because I am a team player.

"I had to be patient when I first came here because Grzegorz and Bradley were doing well but now I have got a chance I feel I am taking it. I am really happy and hopefully that will continue."