Striker Rob Hulse confessed that Leeds United can forget about automatic promotion and focus on going up through the play-offs.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Hull - ex-York City ace Jon Parkin bagging the vital goal - left Kevin Blackwell's team seven points behind second-placed Sheffield United with five games remaining. They are without a goal in their last three matches and have gone four games without scoring from open play.

Three points out of the last 15 is simply not good enough and, on the prospects of automatic promotion, Hulse said: "You can never say never, but I think we have to plan for the play-offs.

"We have to pick ourselves up now. We can't feel sorry for ourselves, going into the play-offs. The most important thing is to stick together."

Hulse was annoyed that the strikers were singled out for criticism after the goalless draw with Stoke at Elland Road. "I felt aggrieved that the finger was pointed because it is not in my nature to shirk anything," he said. "We are all working hard. Sometimes the quality of delivery has to be improved and when the chances come along we have to take them."

The bustling Parkin, who is known as The Beast, gave the Leeds defence a hard time and he had already been denied a goal by an offside flag before he headed the decisive strike with 74 minutes gone. Robbie Blake and Liam Miller were guilty of spurning simple chances for Leeds.

Blake was re-installed in the starting line-up at David Healy's expense and Danny Graham, on loan from Middlesbrough, left the bench 15 minutes from the end to make his debut.

Hull, whose victory removed any doubts over their Championship survival, were definitely up for the challenge in their first home competitive game against Leeds for 17 years. The Tigers forced Neil Sullivan to make several desperate saves and Leeds manager Kevin Blackwell said: "We knew it would be blood and thunder from Hull. Nothing seems to be dropping for us at the moment.

"We are disappointed but there is still a lot to play for. We have to go into the most important part of the season making sure we don't freeze."

Watford's defeat against Crystal Palace on Friday night should have given Leeds an extra bounce, but they seem to have hit the wall at a vital time.

Leeds match facts

Coca-Cola Championship

Hull City 1, Leeds United 0

(at KC Stadium)

Hull: Myhill, Thelwell, Cort, Delaney, Rogers, Green (Paynter 84), Andrews, Welsh, Ellison (Elliott 71), Fagin, Parkin. Subs (not used): Duke, Duff, Wiseman. Goal: Parkin 74. Cautions: Myhill, Parkin.

Leeds United: Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey, Derry, Miller (Graham 77), Lewis (Healy 77), Hulse, Blake, Richardson. Subs (not used): Bennett, Kilgallon. Cautions: Gregan.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Attendance: 23,486.

Updated: 10:11 Monday, April 03, 2006