Mccann hails Wilks’ best performance for a while
HEAD coach Grant Mccann felt Hull City’s 2-0 win over Burton Albion was Mallik Wilks’ best performance in quite some time.
The striker, playing in his preferred role through the middle up front in the absence of Josh Magennis, scored the crucial opening goal at the KCOM Stadium, as City moved second in League One.
Mccann’s men had to again show their patience, against a stubborn Burton side who were reduced to 10 men 18 minutes in, when defender Sam Hughes was given a second yellow card for a second foul on the impressive Wilks, who caused the visitors problems all afternoon.
The manager, who gave a first league home start to Thomas Mayer along with James Scott, hooked them both at half-time, bringing on Tom Eaves and Hakeeb Adelakun, in a bid to liven up an often pedestrian display.
That switch saw Wilks move to the right side to face up against debutant Owen Gallacher, with
Eaves going through the middle and Adelakun to the left, a tweak Mccann thought was key to the performance moving up a gear.
“I thought the difference in the second half was that we moved the ball quicker as a team,” Mccann said.
“The message at half-time was: ‘Don’t get frustrated, stay calm, the goal will come. But don’t get frustrated if it does not come in the first ten or 15 minutes,” he said.
“Keep plugging away and moving it quickly and trying to overload them on the outside.’ “It was pleasing to see. “Another goal came from a set-play and Haks had the second one laid on to make the game more comfortable for us.
“He had to stay concentrated, it was bouncing and bobbling. It was a good finish.
“I thought Mallik had a good game. Probably the best he has had for a while, which was pleasing, so hopefully he can continue that.”