Dolan eager to tackle Tigers

"You would expect me to say it is just another game with just another three points at stake, but I think it is fair to say the game is being looked on with eager anticipation," said Dolan.

With a handful of ex-Hull players now in the Minstermen ranks and the fact the match with the Tigers is always eagerly anticipated by both sets of supporters, the fixture was always likely to have an edge.

But Dolan's Boothferry Park links - he was manager of a cash-stricken Hull from 1991 to 1997 - gives the Tigers tie even more added significance.

"It is the first time I will have faced Hull since I left three and a half years ago and I am looking forward to it," said Dolan, who insisted he had no point to prove "whatsoever".

"I had six and a half years there and it was a case of trying to keep the club afloat most of the time," he explained.

"But I enjoyed every minute of it and for a manager to stay at a club so long is fairly unusual.

"When I went there they had just had a bout of spending with Stan Ternent as manager and from then on the purse strings were tight.

"For the last couple of seasons supporters had seen the decline over the years and became - and quite rightly - disillusioned with things.

"They wanted investment and it wasn't until Mr (David) Lloyd took over as chairman that there appeared to be some.

"But Mr Lloyd wanted to change everything and I went.

"Looking back now, supporters at Hull are very passionate and they turn out in great numbers and they deserved better.

"In the period since they have deserved better because they have stuck by the club and have been very patient.

On the team news front, Dolan said he was hopeful of naming the same-line-up as that which recorded City's first away of the season at Halifax on Tuesday night.

"I have been stressing for the last couple of weeks that it would be nice to have a settled team but we have got one or two bumps and bruises so we will see," he said.