Djibril Cisse's header deep into first-half injury time was enough to lift Sunderland over Brown's free-falling side, who have now won just one in 17 Barclays Premier League games and hover three points above the drop zone.

With Liverpool and Manchester United both yet to come to the KC Stadium, Hull's extraordinary start to the season now seems a distant memory but Brown insists there is plenty of bite left in the Tigers yet.

He said: "People have already written us off against Liverpool next week, but there are still five games to go.

"We are not in the bottom three and if that continues we'll be fine.

"We have two ways of looking at this. We played Middlesbrough last week and fully deserved what we got.

"But yesterday we deserved something from the game and if I get that kind of commitment over the our last five games we'll be okay."

The visitors certainly started well against a home side looking nervous as their big following expected them to beat their fellow strugglers.

Manucho almost connected with a cross from Geovanni with two minutes on the clock and former Sunderland midfielder Kevin Kilbane steered a low shot wide as Sunderland showed plenty of early nerves.

Kilbane's downward header forced a fine save from Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon and Phil Bardsley knocked a Michael Turner effort off the line before the home side rode their luck and snatched a scarcely deserved lead.

Andy Reid sent in a deep cross from the left which was headed on into the box by Danny Collins and found the head of Cisse, who nodded his 10th league goal of the season despite suspicions of offside.

It was a different story early in the second half with Cisse clattering a low shot against the legs of Boaz Myhill seconds after the restart and Kenwyne Jones heading home from close-range only to be ruled offside.

But Hull fought back with George Boateng smashing a long-range effort just wide and substitute Caleb Folan heading inches wide of target after a 73rd minute cross from Craig Fagan.

For Sunderland boss Sbragia, survival is now in sight and he takes his team into next week's clash with bottom side West Bromwich Albion in a much stronger position.

"The goal might have been offside but I don't care," said Sbragia. "Attacking-wise, with a little more care, we could have got a couple more goals, but overall the players gave their all.

"It's difficult when there's a lot of pressure on you to win the game but the players stood up today. They showed what good players they are and they deserved the three points. I'm pleased as punch for them.

"It doesn't give us any breathing space but it does make the week ahead a little bit easier for us.

"The players gave their all and that's all I asked for. We need points on the board and we got some really precious points."