Slater: Grant’s message clear
Goal hero Regan Slater admitted Grant Mccann’s directions were clear, after coming on to help change the game for Hull City in Tuesday night’s 3-1 win at Bristol
Rovers.
For the second away match in a row, City scored three on the road and if the win at Rochdale was routine, this was anything but.
A disastrous start saw the Tigers a goal down inside the opening couple of minutes, but they slowly dusted themselves down, working their way into a game they went on to dominate.
Losing 1-0, boss Mccann took a big risk in making a triple substitution in the 59th minute, sending on Slater, Keane LewisPotter and Tom Eaves to replace Greg Docherty, Hakeeb Adelakun and Josh Magennis.
Within five minutes, Lewis-potter had headed superbly into the net to level it up, before Slater popped up inside the box to crash home Eaves’ cross and the striker then wrapped up the points five minutes into stoppage time.
“I’m buzzing to get the goal, but delighted with the three points,” said Slater. “We’ve come a long way, but it’s nice to have a long journey back with the three points.
“As I came on, the gaffer said he wanted me to make the box.
“When I came on, in the first five minutes, I saw the space was definitely there to do that and Eavesy crosses it, blasts it in at me, the first touch was getting away from me but I managed to blast it into the back of the net, so I was buzzing.”
Slater joked that prior to Mccann’s matchwinning changes, the City boss preempted the incredible comeback which was about to follow.
“He said, ‘Reags, watch this I’m a tactical genius with the three substitutions’ - but no, he just said to make the box and the other two the same.
“We just asked more questions, actually getting the ball into the box, making them defend and luckily the penny dropped for us when us three came on.”
Slater has had to be patient for his opportunity in the first team, given the form of Richie Smallwood and George Honeyman, but hopes performances like the one he delivered on Tuesday night will help force his way into the starting XI.
“I’d love to get more minutes, help the team out and a few goals on the way wouldn’t go amiss either,” he said.