Steve Bruce: Hull City boss says they have 'no excuses' ahead of Wembley return

Steve Bruce led Hull City to the Premier League in 2013 where they remained until 2015

Hull City manager Steve Bruce has said there are "no excuses" for a poor performance in the Championship play-off final against Sheffield Wednesday.

Hull stuttered in their play-off second leg as they lost 2-0 at Derby County, but went through 3-2 on aggregate.

"If we do get to the heights then it takes a very, very good team to beat us," Bruce told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It's a really difficult league but we've given ourselves an outstanding chance of getting promoted."

He continued: "We have none of the excuses, now we've had 10 days to prepare and a whole week to build up to face a good Sheffield side.

"We are capable of putting in an awful performance, which usually happens in the second or the third game in a short period of time, but we know we can perform."

In an 18-year managerial career, Saturday will be Bruce's first trip to Wembley to watch his team compete in a play-off final.

City are likely to be without first-choice goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who has kept 18 clean sheets in 44 appearances this season.

McGregor missed both legs against Derby because of a back injury, with Eldin Jakupovic deputising.

Hull and The Owls drew both of their meetings in the Championship this season, with Bruce's side finishing nine points above sixth-placed Wednesday.

"It's easy practising on a training ground; it's like practising penalties, every one of them smashes into a top corner, no problem," added Bruce.

"That goal shrinks a little bit when you are in front of 100,000 and what's at stake. It's about handling the occasion."