Hull boss McCann: ‘we got what we deserved’

LEWIS GRABBAN’S brace earned Nottingham Forest a muchneeded 2-0 victory at Hull City.

Sabri Lamouchi’s side had not won in five previous Sky Bet Championship games, but they made an encouraging return to form at the KCOM Stadium as their tired-looking opponents rarely threatened.

Forest’s game management was particularly impressive – especially once Grabban scored an 11th-minute penalty.

Despite having created few chances following that early breakthrough, Hull’s most potent attacking threats, wingers Kamil Grosicki and Jarrod Bowen, were superbly marshalled by a resilient back-four.

Grabban then confirmed an away win when he smashed home from a tricky angle after 82 minutes.

Hull head coach Grant McCann accepted his side had been outplayed.

He said: “We were disappointing. There are no excuses – we probably got what we deserved.

“The game was quite stopstart, and that affected how we wanted to play. We kept giving the ball away too easily and we just didn’t get going.

“We tried. We huffed and puffed a little bit, but it didn’t seem to happen. Everyone was off.

“I don’t think there was much in the game. If anything, Forest were better at keeping the ball and that was probably the difference – we just couldn’t find that last pass.

“We’ve got to find the answers because the games come quick at this time of year. We’ve got to go there (QPR on Sunday) and get a response.

“I think this league is very difficult. Over the last 12 games we’ve won six of them, which isn’t too bad. We need to make sure we respond from this.

“The group have done really well – they are working very hard – I’m really, really pleased with them. We’ve lost the game, lost three points, but we’ve got plenty of time to make it up.”

Hull: Long, Lichaj, Burke, De Wijs, Elder (Kingsley 39), Batty (Bowler 46), Da Silva Lopes (Honeyman 78), Bowen, Irvine, Grosicki, Eaves. Tafazolli, Ingram, McKenzie, Pennington.

Nottm Forest: Samba, Cash, Tobias Figueiredo, Worrall, Chema, Sow (Ameobi 45), Watson, Lolley (Joao Carvalho 88), Tiago Silva, Semedo (Yates 69), Grabban.

Smith, Jenkinson, Robinson,

Unused substitutes: Unused substitutes:

Dawson.

Referee: G Eltringham (Tyne & Wear).

■ Guiseley gained the points and the bragging rights after beating Farsley Celtic 2-0 in National League North, while York City beat Bradford Park Avenue 2-0.