After reaching the FA Cup final last season, Hull City were expected to progress to much better things this season.

It has not been the case as Steve Bruce has been unable to match the expectations while also struggling with off the field issues.

In order to help the former Sunderland manager, the club recently brought in former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan, who is currently out of work after having left United following the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson. There has been an improvement in performance from Hull over the last few matches. Defender Curtis Davies says that the presence of Phelan is starting to have an impact on the team.

Hull have managed just four wins this season. Despite signing goalscorers like Jelavic in the summer from Everton, they have been able to get only 23 goals in 25 league matches.

Defensively, they have been poor and have conceded more than 30 goals in these matches. Ahead of the away match against Manchester City, Davies says that the recent improvement in performances has not translated into results but he is hoping to get something out of the match against the reigning champions. City have been suffering from poor form at home this season.

“Coming in straight away, his talk was good. He touched on the fact that he can’t affect what’s happened before.Everything that’s gone on in the past, where we are in the league, he can’t affect.He wants to help us moving forward. He wants to help the manager, with Berch (Keith Bertschin), with Clem (Stephen Clemence) and the players, to start getting results.He gave us that idea that if we jump on board with him, we can start getting better and moving up the league,” said Davies. Phelan knows Steve Bruce extremely well from their Manchester United days.