‘I’VE NEVER HAD GOOD EXPERIENCE AT FLEETWOOD’
GRANT Mccann is hoping past experiences count for little when his Hull City side go in search of a fifth straight League One victory at Fleetwood Town tonight.
His troops will go top if they avoid defeat against Joey Barton’s Cod Army, but boss Mccann is acutely aware of the task facing his side, despite Town suffering three defeats in their opening four games of the campaign.
Barton guided Fleetwood to the League One play-offs last season, only to lose to eventual winners Wycombe in the semi-final.
And the Northern Irishman, this week nominated for September’s Manager of the Month, is keen to make some happy memories at a ground he hasn’t enjoyed his visits to in the past against a side he expects to come good as the season wears on.
“It’s another tough game at Fleetwood,” Mccann said in his pre-match conversation with BBC Humberside. “I’ve never had good experiences there, personally, as a player or as a manager.
“I think I’ve only ever won once there as a manager, don’t think I won there as a player, so it’s a tough, tough place to go. Especially on a Friday night, with the wind swirling down by the sea and stuff like that.”
For many of Mccann’s squad that have been used to the Championship’s cosy comforts, visiting Highbury tonight will come as something of a shock to the system, he says, and a challenge his players will need to stand up and face.
“It’s a bit of a culture shock for some of our boys that played in the Championship last year, but this is League One,” he said. “This is what you’re going to get.” Despite Town’s poor start, Mccann expects Barton to inspire his side to a significant improvement, and will therefore not be taking his hosts lightly. He added: “They’re a good team, they’re experienced, and they’ve got goalscorers in their team. It’s going to be a real challenge.
“I think Fleetwood will be up and around the top six for sure, Joey knows the league – he’s been there last season and he’s done it so we know it’s going to be another challenge we’re going to have to meet head on. It’s going to be a good footballing game, both teams want to play the right way and I think both teams can mix it, so something’s got to give in the game and hopefully we can come away with the three points.”