Dean Smith is well aware that his Brentford team will be facing a Hull side looking to make a good first impression on new boss Nigel Adkins.

The former Southampton and Reading boss was appointed as the Tigers' head coach on Thursday, replacing Leonid Slutsky.

When there is a change, there is a clean slate and players will be keen to force their way into Adkins' plans, or retain their place in the first team.

Smith said: “You want to make an impression on the new man who comes in and make a good first impression.

“You go into a club as a manager with pre-conceived ideas of what the players are about so you're looking to make sure you get on side with him.”

“I think it is (a clean slate when a new man comes in). When I came in here, I had an idea of some of the players and what they're like but until you get in you don't know. You have to make sure your thoughts aren't the same three weeks later.”

Reading manager Nigel Adkins before the match

There is also a danger that they will face a more determined side than previous fixtures, but Smith doesn't believe that to be the case.

He added: “I think they've been up for games. They've been all right in the games I've watched.

“They were 2-0 up against Bristol City and they scored some good goals against them. They are on a good run at the moment.

“They beat Birmingham 6-1 at home. They've got players who are capable. They just haven't got the results. We may not have won in our first seven but we should have been.”

Adkins' appointment will force Smith to adapt is plans slightly but he doesn't expect they will be drastically different to their previous games.

He explained: “Yes, because he'll have different ideas to the previous manager. The one thing is, with two days training, how much can you change.

“It's still the players from last week. He'll have his own ideas though.”

Hull, though, are among the top scorers at home but also have one of the leakiest defences at the KCOM stadium and Smith, who joked that it'd be a 0-0, expects an interesting game.

He added: “It'll be interesting to see. We're an attacking team and they seem to be. We've prided ourselves on our defensive displays so far this season.

“We feel we've tightened up. We worked in the summer on that. They've got good players there. It's unfortunate the manager has lost his job.”

The managerial change will not change Smith's plans for Saturday's game however.

He explained: “My thinking has always been about ourselves and our game plan. That will change from team to team.

“Our style won't change but our game plan has to change now and again. Whether they're bottom or top.

“Some teams are renowned to sit back and others like to be on the front foot. Nigel is going in there and he'll want a good start so I expect him to be positive in the first game.”

Managerial changes can work in reverse with Birmingham a notable example. Since the start of last season, they picked up 34 points under Gary Rowett in 21 games but, after his ridiculous sacking, have picked up 35 from 45 games.

Smith confirmed: “It can go against a club. For me, it's about the players and the mindset of the club.

“I feel here there's a strategy to do things the right way. You can't comment on other teams as you don't know what goes on in football clubs.”