STEWART SPARKS TIGERS MAULING
GRANT McCann believed his Hull side gained their just rewards for showing hosts Luton a lack of respect in the second half as they stormed to victory.
Goalless at the break, Kevin Stewart then netted twice, with Kamil Grosicki also on target as the Tigers picked up only their second win of the Championship campaign to leave Luton shell-shocked.
McCann said: “I thought first half we showed them a little bit too much respect for my liking.
“They had a lot of possession, we didn’t get out to the ball enough, but they didn’t really hurt us, as I thought we were in control in terms of what we were doing, we just didn’t get them against them enough.
“Second half we showed a different side to us in terms of what we’ve showing this season with high energy, high pressing, breaking quickly, creating opportunities.
“In the end we probably could have had four or five.”
After a totally uneventful opening 45 minutes, the game came to life after the break.
Within minutes of the restart former Liverpool youngster Stewart rifled over from 20 yards, but from his next attempt in the 63rd minute, he was to break the deadlock, as Grosicki escaped on the left.
His cross saw Sonny Bradley challenge substitute Josh Magennis, only for the midfielder to fire the loose ball into the ground and beyond Sluga.
The goal buoyed City, as Grosicki’s snapshot from 20 yards was inches wide, while the previously quiet Jarrod Bowen then curled over the top.
Although Luton fought back strongly and came close on several occasions, Hull’s big finish proved decisive.
With three minutes to go, Hull made sure of the points when this time Grosicki did have his radar switched on, cutting in from the left and then beating Sluga at his near post. It then went from bad to worse for the hosts in the final minute, as they conceded a goal of pure comedy late on, Jarrod Bowen racing away once more to have just Simon Sluga in his sights.
The keeper did well to save, but then when trying to gather the loose ball, Potts cleared it against him, allowing Stewart to tap home from close range for his second.
It summed up Luton’s day, and left Luton chief Graeme Jones understandably disappointed.
“I was pleased with the first half performance and I thought the goal was coming,” he said.
“I asked us to be consistent with our football performance as we had been in the first half but sadly we just couldn’t sustain it.
“Even then when I look at the first goal back, if James Collins flicks the ball on, we’ve got two spare players free in the box, and that’s the margins in football.
“James doesn’t flick it on, they go down the pitch, and we concede and that’s the fine margins we’re dealing with in the Championship.
“It’s really disappointing.”