Hull City v Ipswich Town - Midfield worries as Tigers aim for swift response

POSSESSING a strong jaw is an essential pre-requisite for every successful promotion aspirant and so Hull City must display that this evening.
Hull City manager Grant McCann: Long way to go.Hull City manager Grant McCann: Long way to go.
Hull City manager Grant McCann: Long way to go.

Tigers chief Grant McCann has witnessed plenty during his eventful time at the club and Saturday’s second half at old side Doncaster Rovers was one of the hardest of this season.

Conceding two goals – including an equaliser in the 12th minute of stoppage time – and coming out on the wrong end of some refereeing calls which left him angry and perplexed was bad enough in a see-saw 3-3 draw.

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But matters were compounded by the sight of influential midfielder Greg Docherty exiting the fray with a groin problem and play-maker George Honeyman being stretchered off in a neck brace following lengthy treatment towards the end of normal time.

It all made for a fraught second half for City, who must now quickly go again after letting two valuable points slip through their grasp in a tight promotion race.

McCann, already without another key midfield player in Richie Smallwood this evening, said: “We cannot dwell on it. We will assess it, see where we went wrong and put it to bed.

“Defensively, we have been good this season and have kept the most clean sheets in the league. We just lost a wee bit of defensive shape in the second half and we ultimately paid the price for it.

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“There are 16 games to go and we are right in the mix. We know we could have been in a better position if we had picked up more with the performances we have had this season. But there is a long way to go.”

Last six games: DLDLWD; Ipswich LDWLDD.

Referee: T Nield (West Yorks).

Last time: Hull 2 Ipswich 0, September 15, 2018; Championship.

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