Wilks, Whyte and Magennis fire the Tigers to the top
GOOD WEEK OFF THE PITCH CONTINUES ON IT AS CITY STRIKE TO SEE OFF IN-FORM ACCRINGTON
Keane Lewis-potter returned to the starting line-up to inspire Hull City to a stunning 3-0 win over promotion rivals Accrington Stanley at the KCOM Stadium to go back top of League One. Starting for the first time since November, Lewis-potter inspired a determined first half display, setting up Mallik Wilks’ 12th goal of the season for a deserved lead at the break.
If City had been guilty of being profligate in recent weeks when in a winning position, there was no sign of that in the second half as Grant Mccann’s men tore into an Accrington side so impressive in the recent win at Charlton.
Gavin Whyte tapped in a second City goal 10 minutes into the second half after Wilks had seen a shot saved, before Josh Magennis came off the bench to score a third from the penalty spot after Jacob Greaves was thrown to the deck.
That decision in the 67th minute saw Cameron Burgess pick up a second yellow card, and Magennis rolled the ball into the opposite corner.
Chances continued to flow for City, with Wilks passing up and substitute Dan Crowley seeing an audacious chip go just over, in what could have been a far more convincing win.
After weeks of contract wrangles, Lewispotter was handed a first start since an FA
Cup tie with Fleetwood in November.
The 19-year-old agreed his new deal on Monday before being handed a place in the first team as one of three changes by Mccann, replacing Magennis who dropped to the bench.
Alfie Jones came in for the suspended
Reece Burke, while Lewie Coyle took the place of Josh Emmanuel at right-back and there were places on the bench for new signings Crowley and Jordan Flores.
The opening 10 minutes were a lively affair, with both sides keen to play forward and not sit back, before trading corners.
It had been a fast-paced opening seven minutes and the home side should have been in front, only to pass up another golden chance, as they do so often.
Greg Docherty was well aware inside his own half, he found George Honeyman with a neat pass and courtesy of a fortunate ricochet, the City man swept a ball through for Wilks down the right. In space, Wilks surged into the box only to blaze a shot over the bar.
Accrington were anything but content to sit back and soak up the pressure, their aggressive style was making for a watchable encounter, but it was also giving the Tigers numerous openings.
Lewis-potter, clearly with the bit between his teeth, was interchanging with Wilks, which in turn caused Stanley problems with their movement.
It was that pair that combined for the opening goal eight minutes before the break to give Mccann’s men a deserved lead.
The fleet-footed Lewis-potter sold the defender a kipper on the edge of the area, before prodding the ball into the path of Wilks to stroke in the bottom corner.
Mccann’s message at the break was clear, get out and start quickly because that’s what his side did.
Two corners in quick succession saw Honeyman flash an effort wide after a cross from Whyte, before Callum Elder’s cross picked out Greaves eight-yards out but he could only turn the ball wide of the post.
Accy boss John Coleman, clearly unhappy with some of what he saw in the first half sent his players out long before the Tigers, and still they looked a little dazed – that was a theme that continued.
City’s high-octane start to the second half was rewarded with a second goal and on just his second appearance, Whyte found the net.
Wilks took advantage of some weak defending from Butcher to force a good save
from Baxter, only for the ball to fall kindly to Whyte to roll into the net. The on-loan Cardiff man looked across the assistant, clearly couldn’t believe the space and time he had to find the corner, that was 2-0 – a lead which looked unassailable, and it was.
City were purring by this point and despite a scare at the other end when Butcher prodded just wide from a scramble inside the box, the third wasn’t too far away.
Lewis-potter and Whyte were replaced by Magennis and debutant Crowley with 25 minutes left, and barely a minute later it was 3-0. Greaves was manhandled from an Elder corner by Burgess, and referee David Rock seemed to take an age before pointing to the spot.
Burgess collected a second yellow card and took his leave, before Magennis sent Baxter the wrong way to kill off any remaining hope Stanley had of getting back into a game they were barely ever in.
It was wave after wave of attack from the home side, Crowley attempted an audacious chip from the edge of the box which went just over the bar, while Wilks went close.
The scoreline allowed Mccann to hand a debut to Flores for Richie Smallwood, before Regan Slater took the place of the excellent Honeyman.
Mccann took further advantage of the situation by taking the opportunity to send on Emmanuel further up the pitch in place of Docherty.
Coyle could have rounded off the scoring in five minutes of stoppage time, Baxter making a smart save to keep it at 3-0.
At the start of a week which sees City face Portsmouth on Saturday before the return at Stanley next week, this could barely have gone any better for Mccann and his men.