The Tigers have won just one of their last 16 games but ended a run of six successive defeats with a draw against West Brom three weeks ago.

They followed that up with another creditable point at Chelsea but they still remain dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Brown believes confidence has lifted in recent weeks but insists that without maximum effort they cannot hope to see off the likes of Tottenham, who visit the KC Stadium on Monday.

He said: "I think [Hull coach] Steve Parkin wrote on the notice board talent comes before work in the dictionary - but that is the only time it does.

"When you say hard work, that is what Hull City are all about.

"We have to put our stamp on this Premier League with a Hull City performance between now and the end of the season. That begins on Monday night.

"But we did get back to basics against West Brom. We did get back to hard work, being in people's faces, disrespecting if necessary, putting on pressure from the front.

"There will be more of the same on Monday, I guarantee it."

Hull are bidding to complete a league double over Spurs having won at White Hart Lane with a Geovanni free-kick in October.

That result left Spurs bottom and lifted Hull to third, but now only three places and four points separate the clubs.

Spurs are a different proposition since Harry Redknapp took charge as manager and he signalled his intentions by signing Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Wilson Palacios in the January transfer window.

Brown said: "People call him a wily old fox. He is a very experienced manager.

"He must have spent over £50million in the transfer window, and not only that the previous manager spent over £50million at the start of the season.

"It is a very rich squad. But the bottom line is, they are in the predicament they are in because they are not performing. We have got to make sure on Monday they don't perform.

"The talent Tottenham have got, everybody would like, but the reason they are there is because the talent hasn't been on show on a regular basis."

Monday's game is followed by an FA Cup fifth-round replay against Sheffield United on Thursday and a visit from Blackburn on Sunday.

Brown added: "It is a big week, there is no doubt about it, but we are not getting past Tottenham Hotspur.

"We have always lived a game at a time in my time at the club. So it is bring on Tottenham Hotspur and when the final whistle comes, then it is bring on Sheffield United."