WE’LL LOOK FOR WIN
MCCANN WANTS TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS WEMBLEY WITH VICTORY AGAINST GRIMSBY
GRANT Mccann’s message to his Hull City players is clear, as they prepare for a crunch clash with Grimsby Town tonight.
A victory in their final Papa John’s Trophy group game at the KCOM Stadium will see the Tigers through to the last 32, and a step closer to March’s final at Wembley, an occasion the City boss wants his players to taste.
City lost their first group game of the competition against Leicester City’s Under-23s at the beginning of the season, but came back to win 2-0 at Harrogate Town a week ago.
Mccann’s men come into the game on the back of three successive 2-0 wins, and with two of those coming in cup competitions, fringe players have been given a chance to impress and will be again.
“We want to win,” said Mccann. “We want to go further in this competition, so we’ll pick a good team to play against Grimsby.
“It will be more opportunities for others who haven’t played much this season – we’re at home again; we need to make sure we winning these games at home.
“We want to progress in the competition.”
The EFL Trophy is often derided by some in the game and while it may lack credibility in their eyes, the chance to play a showpiece game at Wembley next year is an opportunity which doesn’t arrive too often.
“It’s a competition I think which splits people’ opinions,” he said.
“For me, it’s an opportunity to get minutes into players legs and it’s an opportunity to go far and get to the final and end up at Wembley.
“I said after the game at Harrogate, it doesn’t come around too often that you get a chance to play at Wembley and I’ve been stressing that to the players.
“I was fortunate enough to play there twice, both of them in this competition and it’s a great competition. Hopefully by then, the fans will be back which we’re all hoping and praying for.”
While City know a point will be enough for them to make it through, Ian Holloway’s Mariners can qualify with a win of their own, which Mccann believes sets the tie up nicely.
“A point does us, but we don’t go into games trying to get a point, we’ll be wanting to win the game and I’m sure Grimsby will be saying the same. It’s an opportunity for them to progress ad obviously there’s a financial reward which goes with it as well.
“It’s big for us, and I think it’ll be a good game.”