Hammer of the Godds
UNDER-FIRE boss Grant Mccann insists he will battle on after the Tigers fell to Matt Godden’s early strike in their latest nightmare no-show.
It’s now one win in 15 games – a dire run that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Ali Acun Ilicali, the Turkish media mogul who is on the verge of a £30million takeover at the MKM Stadium.
The highprofile TV producer has already outlined his intent to bring in players and a coach from his homeland – so Mccann’s job prospects look bleak regardless of results.
The Northern Irishman faced fresh chants to quit, and he said: “It hurts to hear the fans having a go. It’s not going our way but I’ve got full belief in the players, so judge us at the end of the season.
“It’s not going well and we can’t hide behind that. We just didn’t get enough things right today and the performance level wasn’t as good as I’ve seen this season.”
Hull, who are 22nd in the table, were second best to a Coventry side who look capable of leaving the Championship in the opposite direction.
For the second straight home game Mccann was taunted by chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” from fed up fans who want to see the return of popular former boss Steve Bruce.
Bruce led Hull into the Premier League after guiding them into Europe and their first Wembley FA Cup final in a memorable four-year spell – but the relegation-threatened Tigers are a different beast now and unlikely to head in the right direction until the exit of unpopular owners Assem and Ehab Allam.
Coventry’s first win on the road since mid-august was in little doubt once Godden’s diving header gave them a ninth-minute lead with his third goal in as many games.
The welltravelled striker was given the freedom of the penalty area to nod an Ian Maatsen cross beyond Matt Ingram.
The Sky Blues would have been out of sight by the break but for Ingram, who denied Godden a second when he was put through by Callum O’hare. Late on Coventry keeper Simon Moore tipped a
Mallik Wilks header over to seal a first win in four.
Coventry manager Mark Robins said: “It’s a hardfought three points and you could see the lads grow in confidence as the game wore on.”
HULL: Ingram 7; Emmanuel 6, Bernard 6, Greaves 5, Elder 5; Smallwood 3 (Mcloughlin 46, 6), Docherty 6; Moncur 6 (Wilks 63, 6), Cannon 6, Lewis-potter 5; Eaves 4 (Magennis 63, 5).
Subs not used: Cartwright, Coyle, Longman, Smith.
COVENTRY: Moore 7; Hyam 7, Mcfadzean 7, Clarke-salter 7; Dabo 7, Hamer 8 (Kelly 83, 6), Sheaf 8, Maatsen 8; O’hare 8; Godden 8 (Allen 68, 6), Gyokeres 6 (Walker 77, 6). Subs not used: Wilson, Rose, Waghorn, Kane.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Matt Godden – Coventry’s match-winner put in a great shift for the visitors to pile pressure on Hull boss Grant Mccann.
REFEREE: David Webb 6.