Is Mccann now drinking in last chance saloon?
ALLAMS COULD WIELD THE AXE AT THE INTERNATIONAL BREAK
Hull City returned to action earlier this month with momentum at their backs following a spirited comeback against Blackpool to earn a point and end a run of eight games without scoring. Things improved further when beating Middlesbrough 2-0 to win at home for the first time in 651 days in front of fans and while dark clouds remained, the sun was threatening to poke through at least.
That hope which saw City see off Boro on a rainy East Yorkshire afternoon at the beginning of the month has quickly evaporated in the weeks since, with despair, anger and frustration back to the fore after a temporary holiday.
Three games and three defeats have since followed for Grant Mccann’s Tigers, one of which was particularly damaging against fellow strugglers Peterborough United last Wednesday night.
Either side of that calamitous loss, City came away from Huddersfield with nothing and again on Saturday, tackled the long trip back from Luton Town with nothing to show for a vastly improved second-half performance, though in truth, their first half showing was abysmal.
Mccann now has three more outings before the final international break of the calendar year, of which two are away from home and given City’s problems on the road this term, that hardly strikes excitement into those supporters who plan to navigate the M6 to West Brom next Wednesday night before what is shaping up to be a relegation six-pointer at Barnsley.
The beleaguered City boss looked a beaten man when he trooped off the Kenilworth
Road pitch at the weekend, contemplating a 25th defeat in his last 34 Championship outings, but the next three games could well shape his future at City.
As it stands, Mccann is understood to retain the faith of vice-chairman Ehab Allam and with takeover discussions ongoing, there is likely to be an unwillingness to make a change in the manager’s office at this stage.
Should City leave Oakwell with yet another defeat, that may change and Allam’s hands may very well be forced into decisive action in a bid to protect the value of his sale.
While Coventry have enjoyed a brilliant, if not slightly surprising start to the season, their away form is something of a concern.
Just one win in their last seven trips away from the CBS Stadium coupled with four defeats should give the Tigers hope - their last win coming at Blackpool on August 17.
Among their recent flood of away defeats was a 5-0 thumping at Luton at the back end of last month, and particularly with a trip to
The Hawthorns coming a few days’ later, the need for the Tigers to get something against the Sky Blues is paramount.
Let’s be honest, few will give City much of a chance in the Black Country against a side expected to be promoted.
Albion, under Valerien Ismael are also effective from set-pieces, with only Huddersfield (8) having scored more than their six, while half of City’s 20 goals conceded this term have been from set-pieces.
Mccann’s men were so good at converting their chances from set-pieces delivered by Callum Elder and George Honeyman last term. They’re yet to register one this, which is both a mystery and frustration rolled into one.
And while the impact from set-plays in an attacking sense has been impacted by Honeyman’s absence, the delivery from others has either not been good enough or taken advantage of.
That brings us to Barnsley, and a game against a side that as it stands, are statistically the worst in the division and just a point below the Tigers, but for Derby’s points deduction, they would be propping everybody else up.
It remains to be seen whether or not Tykes head coach Markus Schopp remains in a job post Bonfire Night, but whatever that situation may bring, it’s already shaping up to be a relegation six-pointer, and given City’s soft underbelly - according to Jacob Greaves - this isn’t a game you’d feel entirely comfortable about either.
Barnsley are winless in their last 12, losing eight of those and have lost the last six on the spin. They face a trip to Bristol City themselves without a home win in the last 17 games - before hosting draw specialists Derby prior to City’s arrival.
Such has been the poor form of the team, certainly in the last three games, Mccann’s men are in danger of being cut adrift in the bottom three and we’re not yet at Christmas.
While Cardiff City after eight straight defeats have parted company with Mick Mccarthy are only two points above the
Tigers a place outside the drop zone, back-toback wins for Peterborough United has seen them leapfrog City and move four points clear.
There’s then a clutch of clubs from 19th place upwards on 15 points and above, and quite frankly, based on current trajectory, they’re a long way off being caught and that has to be the danger.
That said, these three games also present City with a chance to regain some form, some confidence and for the first time this season, put a little run together.
Greg Docherty, Greaves and Richie Smallwood have all said in the past few days that there can be no excuses and that the players must knuckle down and get on with the job in hand.
`We’ve played well again,’ and `we’re creating the chances’ is rhetoric nobody wants to hear, least of all the supporters, they want to see real action.
Instead of an excuse, blaming a referee decision, the direction of wind or the pressure in the matchball, they want to see the ball in the net at one end and the sheer grit and determination at the other to keep it out.
These next three games will not define Hull City’s season, but they may well have a huge say on Mccann’s longevity as its manager.