HE might be leading the away team against Middlesbrough this lunchtime, but stand-in Hull City boss Andy Dawson will be still assured of some home support at the Riverside.

Dawson has stepped into the managerial breach after Hull dismissed former boss Tim Walter earlier this week.

The 46-year-old, who is the brother of former England and Tottenham defender Michael, was born in Northallerton and retains strong links in North Yorkshire despite his lengthy association with the Tigers as both player and coach.

He will have plenty of family support on Teesside today, and they will be cheering on Hull rather than Middlesbrough.

“I’m not a million miles from Middlesbrough, so I’ll have a few family up there,” said Dawson. “It’s only 30 minutes from my mum and dad’s house, so there will be a few going there supporting Hull not Boro.”

As a coach working his way through the ranks, Dawson has been hugely impressed with Michael Carrick’s impact during his two years in charge of Boro.

The Boro head coach has overseen a series of changes during his Teesside tenure, and currently finds himself presiding over a side sitting in the play-off positions despite their midweek home defeat to Blackburn Rovers.

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“He’s (Carrick) done brilliant in his time at Boro,” said Dawson. “He’s got a really good group of players and developed a different squad to the ones who got in the play-offs.

“They have had a few changes, but you can only give them credit as a football club and what they have done. They are a really good team. But it’s about us getting better, developing and getting to the standards we know we can hit.”

Boro will start as strong favourites for today’s game given that Hull currently find themselves in the relegation zone, having won just three of their 17 league games so far this season.

However, with both sides completing a three-game week, Dawson feels conditions are ripe for a surprise outcome.

“In the Championship, every game is an opportunity to go and get a result,” he said. “Are Boro a good team? Of course they are, with a very good manager and top coaching staff, and they play some really good stuff.

“They are free-scoring with some really good players, but in the Championship, especially in three-game weeks, the team that is most consistent and prepared mentally and physically and tactically (succeeds).

“That was the message (to players). Are you prepared individually and in a good head space? Have you done everything right? Because if you are, those bits of luck change and will come our way.

“We have a really good culture and environment in this club, and we know players are ready to go. Can you ever dictate the outcome? No. But you can dictate the way you go about it and if you do it in the right way enough, things will turn. Fingers crossed on Saturday, it’s our day.”