Phil Brown says his players will go into Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park in a more positive frame of mind.

The Tigers kept their first clean sheet for more than two months in last weekend's draw with Newcastle and after an improved performance against Aston Villa, Brown believes City are starting to rediscover their form.

"We're going into the game buoyed by the fact that, okay we conceded a late goal against Aston Villa, but we held a very good team to 0-0 for a long time," said Brown.

"Newcastle came to us last weekend and we got a 0-0 draw against a decent side. After the Manchester City debacle, we've closed ranks and we've been hard to play against. That is key to any success.

"We just need that rub of the green now and that little bit of luck at the right moment, or when the moment comes along, having the bottle to stick the ball in the back of the net.

"We'll be putting a team out that can win at Everton, but first and foremost we have to have that mentality of stopping them from playing."

Brown is hoping his side can take advantage of Everton's poor home form, which has seen them win just twice at Goodison Park this season.

However, with the Toffees having kept five consecutive clean sheets, he knows it's not going to be an easy game.

"It surprises me that their home form has been so poor because Goodison Park has always been a fortress. I'm sure David Moyes will address that in the second half of the season, but we have to address it as well.

"They have a fairly rigid system and David is a strong coach and strong in his beliefs about the way the game should be played.

"It's going to be a tough game. They took Phil Jagielka out of the Championship and he has helped to shore up the defence. I remember the days when Everton had Stubbs and Weir - you couldn't get past them.

"David knows what defending is all about in terms of coaching, being an ex-centre half himself. He is a no nonsense kind of guy and I think his teams play that way.

"I think he is a 1-0 man, but he has the flair in his side to win by three or four."