IT IS TENSE.. BUT WE CAN HANDLE IT
Maguire denies nerves have got to Hull and vows they will not crumble
HARRY MAGUIRE revealed the tension players feel in the relegation fight – but insisted Hull will not “crumble”.
The defender added next Sunday’s clash with Crystal Palace to the list of high-pressure games, including Wembley finals, that the club has faced in recent years.
Marco Silva’s men turned in a flat performance which looked nervy, although Lazar Markovic and Abel Hernandez (circle) had chances.
Sunderland, freed from their unsuccessful relegation struggle, got their first win in 10 games as players turned it on, perhaps looking for a summer transfer.
Hull then dropped into the bottom three as rivals Swansea, who play Sunderland next week, beat Everton. That result was still unfolding as Maguire said: “We saw this game as like those past trips to Wembley. People might say we always fall at the last hurdle, but you have to look at our previous home games as well.
“We have won five out of six so people who say we crumble under pressure are wrong.
“We have handled pressure games in the past. Must-win games in the past, like Boro, West Ham, Watford – we have delivered. So who says we won’t deliver when we go to Palace?”
Asked about being in such a high stakes battle, Maguire said: “Every player is tense, but as a professional you should handle it.
“We didn’t crumble, we had chances, but didn’t score at the right times. In previous games when we had chances we have scored, especially at home.
“Swansea going to Sunderland next week isn’t as easy as people think. They are a strong side and it is a strong league. “This was a game we needed to win, we don’t deny that, we didn’t, so next week hopefully we can.” Billy Jones’ diving header and a late tap-in from Jermain Defoe gave some relief to boss David Moyes and Sunderland’s fans. But a series of saves from Jordan Pickford were crucial. The local lad, valued at £25million, is being courted by Everton and Manchester City and could now leave. Moyes only wants him to go if he gets first-team football, saying: “That would be a telling factor if the alternative was to sit on the bench somewhere else. “If I was Jordan I wouldn’t do that, I’d want to play regularly, but Sunderland hold his contract and Jordan can’t go anywhere unless we let it happen.”