Hull City aim to bounce back against Lincoln City

DISAPPOINTED Hull City manager Grant McCann admitted his side simply “weren’t good enough” after losing at basement boys Burton.
Heady brew: Hull City's Malik Wilks collides with Burton Albion's Joshua Earl.Heady brew: Hull City's Malik Wilks collides with Burton Albion's Joshua Earl.
Heady brew: Hull City's Malik Wilks collides with Burton Albion's Joshua Earl.

The Tigers failed to reclaim top spot after Lincoln’s emphatic Friday night triumph at Gillingham.

Debutant Jonny Smith’s last-gasp winner condemned the visitors to their second straight defeat on the road without scoring.

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Frustrated McCann, whose side held a 32-point gap over Albion before the game, slammed: “We just weren’t good enough. It’s not what we’ve come to expect from this group of players.

“We lacked any sort of killer instinct about us. Things were petering out in the final third.

“We didn’t look like scoring at all. Movement wasn’t good enough, cleverness wasn’t good enough in and around the box. That’s unlike us.

“We’ve come unstuck with not taking any sort of chance that came our way and getting punished off a mistake. That’s why we’ve lost the game.”

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McCann made a solitary change to his starting line-up with captain Richie Smallwood coming in for Alfie Jones.

Hull had the first chance as young gun Keane Lewis-Potter headed over Callum Elder’s inviting cross.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s Brewers showed they would not lie down as Lucas Akins fired into the side-netting.

Dan Crowley’s curling effort also missed the target as they went into half-time goalless.

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After the break, Greg Docherty struck over before a powerful left-footed effort hit the top of the bar.

Hull goalkeeper George Long made the first save of the game in the 70th minute as he kept out substitute Smith.

Long could only parry Tom Hamer’s cross into the path of Josh Parker but he fluffed his lines under pressure.

Joe Powell’s curling free-kick almost nestled in the top corner as Albion looked the most likely to strike.

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The killer blow came right at the death when Smith steered home Parker’s clipped pass.

Defeat means Tuesday night’s mouth-watering encounter with the table-topping Imps at the KC Stadium has an even more important look on it now for Hull.

McCann’s men are also looking over their shoulders at Yorkshire neighbours Doncaster Rovers, who have three games in hand and who travel to Fleetwood Town next.

Burton Albion: Garratt, Hamer, Carter, Brayford, Earl, Akins, Edwards (Taylor 74), Broom (Smith 63), Clare, Parker, Hemmings (Powell 45). Unused substitutes: Wallace, Gallacher, Hart, Barnes.

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Hull City: Long, Coyle, Burke, Greaves, Elder, Honeyman, Smallwood (Slater 72), Docherty, Crowley (Magennis 72), Lewis-Potter, Wilks (Scott 78). Unused substitutes: Emmanuel, Ingram, Flores, Clark.

Referee: S Allison (England).

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