Tigers showing fighting spirit

The bust up between Dean Windass and Marlon King has not damaged morale at Hull according to assistant manager Brian Horton.

Geovanni celebrates a goal for Hull City.

HULL // Morale at the KC Stadium has not been damaged by a midweek bust-up between Dean Windass and Marlon King, according to assistant manager Brian Horton. Horton has dismissed the spat between the strikers and insisted the squad had moved on and were ready to take on Manchester City today. Reports surfaced during the week of a falling out between loan striker King and Windass, who has found himself on the periphery since scoring the goal which secured top-flight football for Hull last season. "It was a little tete-a-tete, nothing that can't be dealt with in-house and it has been," said Horton. "We've spoken to them and it's done and dusted. It hasn't spoiled the spirit because we won't allow it to."

The match sees Hull's Brazilian Geovanni facing his old club. He has found the net on five occasions since joining the Tigers, including memorable efforts in wins over Arsenal and Tottenham. Teammate Nicky Barmby said: "I don't think Geo has got anything to prove [to City] whatsoever. He's a fantastic player." City boss Mark Hughes has admitted he was powerless to stop Geovanni joining Hull. "The Geovanni situation had been resolved before I came to the club," said the Blues chief. "He has made a big impact and shown real quality."

Meanwhile Emanuel Pogatetz is determined to make sure his former teammate Ayegbeni Yakubu does not end his nine-match goal drought against Middlesbrough today. The striker, who moved to Everton from Boro for £11.25million (Dh61m) in August 2007, has been declared fit to line up against his old team after shaking off a heel injury. And Pogatetz said: "We know what his strengths are and we will have to work together to stop him scoring."

But Everton manager David Moyes is backing Yakubu to end his scoring drought. "Centre forwards will always tell you that they go through periods without scoring," he said. "Once we get Yak scoring again though I think everybody knows what he is capable of." * PA Sport