HULL manager Phil Brown has called for his players to be more like Tim Cahill – even though he accused the Australian of “assaulting” them.

Brown was fuming at the failure of the assistant referee to flag Marouane Fellaini offside for Everton’s opening goal and also complained about the yellow card count against his side.

“Being streetwise, like Tim Cahill, can certainly help you win games. It can get us points or a point at Goodison Park,” said Brown.

“It was always going to be difficult, but the first goal was key to anything we got and we have been unhinged.

“As a right-back looking along the lines and seeing him offside, I would have screamed at the linesman big style.

“Is that the right way to go? I don’t think it is, but the players have got to hold their hands up and accept that the decisions we aren’t getting at the moment are there for everyone to see.

“The last three games, we have been done by poor officials.

“I have a group of players down there who have been kicked in the proverbials, week in week out, after putting in the shifts that they are putting in.

“They are not getting their just rewards and that affects confidence. Results affect confidence, so we need to turn the corner and get the rub of the green.”

Brown spent much of the game sarcastically clapping referee Martin Atkinson from the sidelines.

But after the game he turned on Cahill rather than the official.