We will fight on until the end says McCann
SURVIVAL BATTLE: HULL CITY AND MIDDLESBROUGH NEED TO START SCORING TO STAY UP
“WE’RE GOING to fight until the end,” Hull City coach Grant McCann has promised ahead of tonight’s trick to Wigan Athletic.
But with the end now firmly in sight, his players’ actions are not yet backing up his words. Even he admits, a repeat of Saturday’s dismal first half at home to Millwall will not cut it but he thinks more of what he saw in the second period might.
The trip to possibly-relegation-threatened, possibly-safe Wigan is Hull’s penultimate away game of a season which promised much, but has only delivered deep disappointment since New Year’s Day.
Since then, the toothless Tigers have only won one Championship game, a fortuitous victory at home to Middlesbrough.
Despite that, despite a midseason transfer policy which came across like a white flag and the loss of key players in June, all hope is not lost. The league table says Hull are in the relegation zone with three matches remaining, but even that is no reliable guide. Factor in the 12-point deduction Wigan are appealing for going into administration, and Hull are out of the bottom three. Even without it, the gap to safety is only a point, or more like two when goal difference is factored in.
Sheffield Wednesday could also be docked points if they are found guilty of misconduct over the sale and lease-back of Hillsborough, a charge they have vigorously contested.
That said, a home win this evening will put Wigan 12 points ahead of Hull with a better goal difference.
McCann is demanding a response to the 1-0 defeat to Millwall,
and he insists he is confident he will get it.
“We have to move on to Wigan,” says a coach who is coming under increasing pressure from his own disillusioned supporters. “We have to go and produce a response there.
“It’s a big week coming up now with Wigan away and Luton at home. We haven’t started it well on the back of Saturday’s defeat but I’ve got a really good belief that everyone in the changing room – staff and players – can get over the line.
“We’ve got to make sure we’re much better than what we showed in the first half (against Millwall), though. The response from the team (in the) second half was much better but we know we have to find a way to improve. We’re doing everything we can to click and to get things to change for us.
“The beauty of this game is that we’ve got three games to go and we know what we need to do to stay in this division.”
Selling Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki in January without the time – if the club’s owners even had the will – to properly replace them was more than just demoralising for the east Yorkshire club, who bounded into 2020 as genuine play-off contenders. Between them the pair had scored two thirds of their side’s league goals.
They made plenty too, but McCann is satisfied his players are creating enough chances without their talismen, he just believes they need to show cooler heads in front of goal to make the most of them. In the 17 games since Mallik Wilks made his debut, he has scored five goals but his teammates between them have only 13.
“One thing that’s pleasing me at the moment is that we’re creating chances and getting into dangerous areas,” says McCann, looking on the bright side. “Now it’s just that little bit of composure needed for that final cross or shot.”
There are problems at the other end too, which suggest Hull need to show better concentration early in games.
“We’ve made a real habit in the last six games, conceding first in five of them,” concedes McCann. “That’s a concern for us.
“We look tentative in the first half of games. I don’t know if pressure has taken a toll on some but it’s very hard. We are where we are at this present moment in time.”
One thing he says he can count on, however, is the attitude of his players.
“We’re going to fight until the end here, let me tell you that,” he promises. “We will work hard and I’m sure we can get over the line.
“We have got a firm belief in this group and we’ll look to get a response in these next three games.”
Wigan will be without the suspended Danny Fox after failing to overturn his suspension for Saturday’s red card at Barnsley. Kal Naismith is an option to come into the Latics’ defence.
Joe Garner is also suspended, serving the final match of a threematch ban.
Hull are again expected to be without on-loan Liverpool midfielder Herbie Kane, who has a hamstring problem. Josh Magennis and Dan Batty came off the bench against Millwall, and are options to freshen the team.
Hull complete their campaign at play-off-chasing Cardiff City a week tomorrow.
Last six games: Wigan Athletic DWLWWW; Hull City LLLWDL.
Referee: T Harrington (Teesside).
Last time: Wigan Athletic 2 Hull City 1, September 18, 2018, Championship.
18 Number of goals scored in 17 games by struggling Hull City – and Mallik Wilks has scored five of them.