Hull boss Phil Brown insists the KC Stadium pitch will be in fine condition for Saturday's crucial Barclays Premier League clash with Stoke.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez complained that the grass was long and dry after Hull's last game at the ground 11 days ago.

"It was a terrible, terrible pitch, really difficult to play," Benitez said. "The ball was like a rabbit and it is difficult to catch a rabbit."

Brown says Benitez's remarks were unjustified and that the pitch was holding up well for one in a dual-purpose stadium.

Brown said: "It was unfounded to a certain extent. The pitch had sufficient grass on it for a rugby team to be sharing the stadium.

"Rugby is not played at Anfield, and rightly so, but that's life at the KC Stadium. We can't do anything about it."