After conceding nine goals in their previous two games, Hull produced a much-improved display against Aston Villa at the KC Stadium, only to be beaten by a late Kamil Zayatte own goal.

Zayatte diverted an Ashley Young cross past Myhill with 88 minutes gone to condemn the Tigers to a third successive Barclays Premier League defeat.

Manager Phil Brown had demanded a response after the 5-1 thrashing by Manchester City on Boxing Day and Myhill felt his team-mates delivered - and deserved more.

The Wales international said: "We can take heart from it. We stuck to the gameplan the manager gave us and a bit of misfortune has undone us.

"We showed character, a good response but it is points that win prizes and that is what we need.

"We have got to keep going and get back to getting points on the board.

"We have got a fairly decent amount of points on the board for a newly-promoted side but we need to keep going and keep adding to it."

The game ended in controversy when referee Steve Bennett awarded Hull an injury-time penalty only to change his mind after protests from Villa and consultation with his assistant.

Bennett thought Ashley Young had handled on the line as a Hull corner looped towards him off team-mate Luke Young but the assistant correctly spotted the ball had bounced off the bar.

Having been the more adventurous side in the second half, Hull felt closing minutes were unjust but Brown conceded the "harsh reality" was it should not have been a spot-kick.

The Tigers must now pick themselves up after a run which, although still eighth, has them looking over their shoulders just seven points above the bottom three.

Myhill is confident they will be up to the challenge.

"The boys are relishing the fact they are in the Premier League," he said.

"I don't think anyone wants to shy away, I don't think anyone wants to hide. I think that showed in the performance.

"It wasn't an easy game but the lads were bang up for it."

Brown also felt he had got the performance, if not the result, he had wanted after making five changes to his side.

After the recent setbacks against Sunderland and Manchester City - when he addressed the team on the field at half-time - he feels they are now getting back on track.

Brown said: "It was a greatly improved performance and defensively it gave me a lot of pleasure. Defensively we were very solid and long may that continue."

Hull return to action against Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.