'Always going to happen' Regan Slater's Hull City statement reinforces new-found swagger

Without a flicker of pause or the faintest suggestion of questioning his own words, Regan Slater responds to a question with an answer that almost feels like a mission statement. "It was always going to happen, we were only ever going to get better," exclaims Slater with the type of delivery that leaves little room for an objection.

Slater is discussion Hull City's improved performances of late, typified by their last home display against a Burnley team who were a Premier League club last year and have genuine ambitions of being so again come the start of next season. Victories may have proven hard to come by in the last four games with just two points to show for their efforts, but the Tim Walter style of football is starting to be much more evident.

There's a clear frustration the rewards are not being reaped, but also a clear confidence emanating from this Tigers squad. There's a swagger to them which for now, may not have been earned, but still somehow feels fitting.

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For Slater, who is now on his fifth City manager (including an eight-game caretaker stay from Andy Dawson), it was clear early on that his new gaffer was onto something, but also clear it was going to take time to become comfortable with it.

"It was completely different to what we have done before. Now we need to turn it into wins," adds Slater, who is right about the need for draws to be converted into wins.

"When the manager first came in it was a massive change. It was completely different to how we were playing last season. It was a bigger change than what we had ever played before. He has a completely different background to Rosenior and everything he does is different. The schedule has changed, training changes, but the tactics is the biggest one. It is important we take all that on board as quickly as possible.

"He has a unique way of playing and we have all had to adapt to that. You can see it is getting better and better each game understanding wise, we just need to turn that into results now."

A current position of 15th place is not acceptable for a club who were desperately trying to force their way into the top six at the end of last season. It's not a position Walter or his players will accept, with a determination to start making their way up the league ladder in coming weeks.

Three games in the next eight days before a two-week hiatus for another international break provides an opportunity to make the first significant moves in the standings. Following Saturday's home game with basement side Portsmouth, City travel to Oxford United on Tuesday night, then conclude a mini three-game run with West Bromwich Albion at the MKM Stadium on Sunday November 10.

"It would be nice to finish on a positive to take into the break and get a few wins, climb a few places in the table," adds Slater.

"The league table is important and it's what we'll get judged on, but we have come a long way since pre-season and we need to keep building on that. It's coming together nicely."