Docherty: We need to click
GREG Docherty says there’s no hiding place for Hull City as results take another turn for the worse.
Despite going into the international break on the back of a draw and first win in 10 games, Grant Mccann’s side have been beaten three times since the resumption with last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield followed by a dispiriting 2-1 loss to Peterborough and 1-0 setback at Luton.
With City sitting in the Championship’s drop zone Docherty said before Saturday’s defeat his team simply have to toughen up, and quickly.
“We gift teams goals, we’ve got to face up to it head on, there’s no hiding place from it. As players it’s just simply not good enough and it needs to turn,” Docherty said. “We need to look ourselves in the mirror.
“We have to punish teams when we’re on top, it’s as simple as that as a team and as a collective, and then we need to keep the back door shut if we’re not going to score. That’s where we’re at.”
While Docherty admits City are feeling a tad unlucky given some of their displays, he says the only thing that matters is points, and patting themselves on the back for playing well in periods won’t cut the mustard.
“Yes, we do, but the points aren’t on the board, that’s the thing. It doesn’t matter, yes we can play well but I’d rather win,” said the Scot. “We dominated (against Peterborough) but we didn’t win, we didn’t pick up the points that we needed to do. There’s been games this season when we’ve been up against it and had the chance to go and nick it and we haven’t done.”
Mccann’s men have no time for selfpity, however and Docherty says time is running out for excuses.
“It needs to click with us as a team,” he said. “You’re not a bad team off the back of last season, it’s hard to put your finger on it and it’s hard not to let it get you down, it’s football, but it needs to change quickly and we’ve got a quick turnaround.
“We need to put points on the board, it’s as simple as that - and we can’t keep standing here and making excuses.
“We need to put the ball in the net and we need to be stronger in our box, it’s as simple as that.”