Being the hunter not hunted may work for Tigers
BUT THEY’VE GOT TO START WINNING
FOR much of the Championship season, Hull City have been the hunted in the race for the top six having occupied sixth place for long periods.
No longer, however, are City in that final play-off berth.
Norwich City’s comfortable 3-0 win at Stoke City before the international break saw the Canaries leapfrog the Tigers and open up a three-point gap, effectively four points with the eight goals they’ve scored in their last two outings against Rotherham and then the Potters which has given them a significant goal difference advantage.
Yes, City have a game in hand but that comes late next month at the home of the Sky Blues and on paper, at least, represents one of their toughest remaining assignments, though it will be just days after the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Manchester United and could yet be put back 24 hours from Tuesday to Wednesday.
David Wagner’s men are now the side City, Coventry, Preston and any other latecomers are now chasing down and the pressure is most certainly on the Norfolk side.
Norwich’s form is terrific, eight wins in their last 12 games has seen them go from being firm outsiders for the top six to firm favourites, with only Leeds and Leicester showing better form.
For comparison, Liam Rosenior’s side are 10th best in the form table over the past 12 games with five wins, four draws and three defeats.
The Tigers are unbeaten in seven, but have drawn their last four including that thrilling 2-2 draw with Leicester City last time out. By the time Stoke arrive on Good Friday, it’ll have been 24 hours shy of three weeks since that game and in that time, they’ve had a very productive week in Turkey.
City have gone from being the hunted to the hunter, and with a young group, inexperienced at challenging for promotion to the Premier League, that may just work in their favour.
Rosenior’s side have, at times, struggled with the sense of expectation on their shoulders at home, in front of an expectant MKM crowd, and while that won’t change in the remaining games, the fact they’re chasing could have a positive psychological impact.
Only time will tell, of course, but teams respond differently to such scenarios and with games to come against Stoke and Leeds United, they’ll face two very different challenges against two teams facing very different battles at opposite ends of the table.
Rosenior’s men may just find chasing a little easier to deal with rather being chased, but either way, they must get back to winning and that has to start on Friday.