Brown: some people can’t handle the truth

HULL manager Phil Brown intends to continue “getting up people’s noses” despite the acrimonious events of midweek.

An eventful few days for the Tigers boss saw his side narrowly fail to repeat their Premier League win at Arsenal on Tuesday night, when two late goals condemned them to a controversial 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Emirates Stadium.

Immediately after the match Brown accused injured Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas - who was pictured on the pitch making aggressive gestures towards Hull players following the final whistle – of spitting at his assistant Brian Horton.

He also claimed Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had refused to shake his hand for the third match this season – something since disproved by video evidence – and slammed referee Mike Riley for allowing William Gallas’ 84th-minute winning goal, which he felt should have been ruled out for offside.

As if that was not enough, Brown was then hit with a £2,500 (€2,660) fine and warned about his future conduct by the FA after a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday, which followed his touchline confrontation with Newcastle counterpart Joe Kinnear on January 14.

The former Derby boss remains largely unrepentant, however, and does not believe the FA should take further action against him after Tuesday night’s remarks.

“People have suggested that I will be (punished) and I can’t understand why,” he said.

“I never levelled the word ‘cheat’ at anybody, I never levelled anything at anybody on Tuesday night that I didn’t actually see.

“If people can’t handle the truth, that’s their problem. I came out with the truth.

“We seem to be getting up people’s noses. Hopefully we can do that on Sunday against Wigan.

“We conduct ourselves the way we conduct ourselves, and have done throughout the season. If you don’t like it then it’s your problem to get over.”