‘A moment of madness’ is costly for Tigers as Blues close gap ahead of crunch clash in promotion battle
GRANT McCANN rued a ‘moment of madness’ as his Hull City side dropped valuable points at home to Blackpool and allowed Pompey to close the gap on the top two.
As the Blues secured a hardfought win at Fleetwood Town to maintain their League One momentum after an enforced break, the Tigers let a 1-0 lead slip late in the game at the KCOM Stadium.
The Seasiders’ Jerry Yates levelled with nine minutes left, cancelling out Mallik Wilks’ 51st-minute opener, to make it one win in seven third-tier outings for Hull.
However, the goal arrived just four minutes after
Reece Burke was sent off for bringing down Ben Woodburn as he raced through on goal.
Hull boss McCann told the Yorkshire Post: ‘I thought we were in control of everything that we were doing and then there’s a moment of madness, which is unlike us, really.
‘It was a sloppy bit of play in the middle of the pitch. Richie (Smallwood) has played it behind Reece, he’s tried to recover and then it’s a red card.
‘But even though Reece got sent off, we shouldn’t have conceded the way we did from a corner.
‘It’s frustrating for us because they’ve had one shot on target, it’s come from our own doing and from someone leaving their man in the box.’
The draw, along with Pompey’s 1-0 win at
Fleetwood, sees second-placed Hull (39) hold a one-point advantage over the Blues (38).
Kenny Jackett’s side have a game in hand, though, and welcome the Tigers to Fratton Park on Saturday.
Leaders Lincoln City’s game against Shrewsbury Town was postponed.
They sit three points above Hull on 42 points, and four clear of the Blues, who have played one game less.
The Imps travel to PO4 on Tuesday, January 26.
A NEW date has been arranged for Pompey’s League One match at Accrington.
Originally scheduled to take place on January 2, the fixture was postponed because of a frozen pitch.
Kenny Jackett’s side will now visit the Crown Ground on Tuesday, March 23 (7pm kick-off).
The game will be held behind closed doors, but fans can watch it live on iFollow.