Hull City boss Steve Bruce has insisted that his side have to sustain their challenge at the top of the Championship through the hectic festive period.

The Tigers saw their 13-match unbeaten run ended by a 2-0 defeat to Derby County, while they were also knocked out of the Capital One Cup in a 4-1 loss to Manchester City in the quarter-finals during the week.

Bruce is adamant that his side cannot afford to let their setbacks push them off course for promotion back to the Premier League.

He told reporters: "We'd been on a heck of a run, unbeaten in 12 or 13 games and yet we didn't shake anybody off. The likes of Derby, Middlesbrough and Burnley have all been on good runs themselves and they'll all want to sustain it over the winter period.

"We're approaching the halfway stage and it's all to play for. There are four or five clubs in there and it wouldn't surprise me if another makes a charge [up the table], but as far as we're concerned we have to make sure that we stay in that title hunt."

Hull face Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday.