Hull's Dean Windass and Alex Bruce battle for possession

Hull manager Phil Brown says his team will be expected to beat Watford in the play-off semi-finals despite playing poorly at Ipswich on Sunday.

They missed out on automatic promotion, finishing third, but Brown said: "Watford are not the form team of the moment so we'll probably be favourites. "It's a lottery now. We're in the semi-finals of a cup. But over the 46 games, the players have been superb.

"We're disappointed we are just in the play-offs. Today was a bridge too far."

As it happened, the single point obtained by Stoke in their match against Leicester would have been good enough to take second spot - even if Hull had won at Portman Road.

But in truth, Ipswich - themselves hunting an ultimately elusive play-off berth - dominated the match, more than the 1-0 scoreline would suggest.

Brown said: "It was always going to be a good game of football.

606: DEBATE Oh well boys, another disappointment but at least we won today and gave ourselves the best possible chance. spanishblueboy

"They played in an attacking formation, we played in an attacking formation.

"We disappointed in the final third today, but the players deserve whatever plaudits they are getting.

"If someone had offered us third at the start of the season, I would've taken that.

"To be disappointed at finishing third is testament to how far we've come this year."

Striker Alan Lee, who headed home a 70th-minute winner, could have been playing for Hull today but their early season bid was rejected by Ipswich.

"Ironically, the lad we tried to sign at the start of the season scores against us - that's probably testament to our scouting system," joked Brown.