Hull City boss Grant McCann beams after Tigers’ emphatic win at Portsmouth

Two own-goals from Pompey defender Jack Whatmough, a stunning strike from midfielder George Honeyman and a late goal from substitute Josh Magennis did the damage as the rampant Tigers tore Pompey to shreds.

And victory, their 14th league win of the season, was extra sweet as it was Hull’s first away win over Portsmouth since 3rd January 2011.

“We were great defensively and clinical up top,” purred McCann, who side are now five games unbeaten in the league. “It was a controlled performance, we knew we had to be good.

“We had to be energetic to match their energy and we had to be aggressive to win the second ball. But because we defended so well that was the carrot for us to go and score some goals. I was really pleased with the performance and the three points.”

Portsmouth came into this fixture having not conceded in their last six league games and just behind Hull in third place in the table. But McCann’s side dominated and have now scored seven goals in their last two league fixtures, form which will do them no harm in their quest for promotion back to the Championship.

“We knew we had to be strong defensively,” added McCann. “Portsmouth were the form team in the league, they’ve only lost a couple of times in the last 15 games. But we were good, structured and we looked a real threat every time we went forward.”

The Tigers had the perfect start when Keane Lewis-Potter’s strike was brilliantly saved by Craig MacGillivray, but the ball cannoned off Whatmough to hand the visitors a 23rd minute lead. And having created good chances to score, it was not until the 61st minute, when Honeyman rifled into the top-left hand corner, that the Tigers finally pulled away.

Two minutes later Whatmough incredibly deflected Greg Doherty’s low cross into his own net for a second time to compound a miserable afternoon.

But there was still time for Northern Ireland international striker Magennis to bag his eighth league goal of a fruitful campaign, firing home with a clinical strike in the first minute of injury-time.

Portsmouth: C MacGillivray, C Johnson, L Brown, T Naylor, J Whatmough, R Williams (H White 45’), J Marquis, R Curtis (E Harrison 64’), A Cannon (B Close 45’), M Harness, S Raggett. Unused substitutes: D Turnbull, J Bolton, R Nicolaisen, M Jacobs.

Hull City: G Long; L Coyle, A Jones, J Greaves, C Elder; R Smallwood, G Honeyman, G Docherty (R Slater 84’); G Whyte (D Crowley 71’), K Lewis-Potter (Billy Chadwick 84’), M Wilks (J Magennis 71’). Unused substitutes: M Ingram, R Burke, J Emmanuel.

Referee: Ben Toner.

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