Grant-asy football for cool McCann

DELIGHTED Hull boss Grant McCann saluted his side’s “calmness” after they began life back in the Championship with a comeback win.

Goals from Keane Lewis-Potter, skipper Richie Smallwood, Josh Magennis and substitute Andy Cannon saw The Tigers battle back from Emil Riis’ eighth-minute opener to claim a memorable opening day victory.

Smallwood’s deflected goal was his first since January 2018, while Cannon netted having been on the pitch for less than a minute as the Lilywhites were stunned by last year’s League One winners.

“Great credit to the players, I thought the reaction and the calmness of the group was great,” said McCann.

“It was a really good performance. Once we worked them out I thought we controlled the game. Our attitude was excellent.”

Preston keeper Declan Rudd was forced off with concussion before Hull found their feet after

Riis’ strike. LewisPotter coolly slotted after a smart pass from Smallwood and the visitors took the lead after the captain’s strike took a cruel deflection off Ben Whiteman.

There was still time for Magennis to poke home at the near post five minutes from time and Cannon to rifle in from an acute angle to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Frustrated Preston boss Frankie McAvoy was upset with the manner of defeat.

He said: “I’m absolutely gutted, I’m bitterly disappointed.

“We we’re fragile defensively and our defending was poor.”

PRESTON: Rudd 5 (Iversen (13th)

5); Hughes 6, Lindsay 7, Storey 6; Cunningham 6 (Berg (45th) 5), Ledson

6, Whiteman 6 (Johnson (70th) 5), Browne 7, Barkhuizen 8; Riis 6 (Potts

(45th) 5), Evans 6

HULL: Ingram 7; Coyle 6, Jones 6, Greaves 7, Emmanuel 6; Docherty 7, Smallwood 9; Lewis-Potter 8 (Scott

90th), Moncur 6 (Cannon 89th), Wilks 7 (Smith 80th); Magennis 7 (Eaves 89th)

STAR MAN: Richie Smallwood

REF: G Ward