Grant McCann on Hull City's never-say-die spirit and why he substituted Dan Batty

Grant McCann praised the mentality of his Hull City players after coming from 2-0 down to keep their Wembley dreams alive.
HUNGRY: Josh Magennis challenges for the ballHUNGRY: Josh Magennis challenges for the ball
HUNGRY: Josh Magennis challenges for the ball

The Tigers looked dead and buried when Wes Burns's deflected shot doubled the lead Paddy Madden's goal had given Fleetwood Town in a first half when the hosts were disappointingly lacklustre.

But goals from Malik Wilks and Keane-Lewis Potter in the 78th and 80th minute, both from George Honeyman corners, dragged Hull back into the game and Lewie Coyle won it with a long-range strange for his hometown club against his old one in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

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McCann has said all along he wanted his side to have a long cup run to build the mental qualities they would need in their League One promotion push, and now they are in the Football League Trophy quarter-finals.

“I told the players that's the determination you need to win titles and cups, that drive they showed in the second half that they weren't beaten,” said a proud McCann.

“We stuck to the task brilliantly, kept going down the sides, kept getting balls in the box and we felt it was coming.

“I thought the players showed unbelievably spirit, drive and determination to come back from 2-0 down.

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“You could see the drive in the second half. I thought it was thoroughly deserved for the second-half performance.”

Hull are just two wins from Wembley in a competition that has its critics, but rarely struggles to sell tickets for the final.

“It's funny because this competition doesn't really excite fans but the further you go in it the more fans seem to get excited about it because there's a change of going to Wembley, it's just a shame. We'd love nothing more than to Wembley with our fans. Whether that happens or not, we don't know.

“If the fans had been in the stadium I'm sure they would have erupted.

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“I've played in this final twice and it's an unbelievable experience for players who might not get another chance to play at the national stadium. I would love nothing better than to take the team there but we've still got two games to go so let's not carried away.”

With ten changes from Saturday's draw at Sunderland, McCann made full use of his squad but he is still trying to add to it, with plans for transfers in both directions this month.

Centre-back Jordy De Wijs has had a medical at Queens Park Rangers and a deal for free agent winger Jordan Flores is close.

A tendon injury for Tom Eaves will see Hull step up their search for a centre-forward and McCann would like a midfielder too.

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He revealed he has had a bid for one player lodged, and had “a really good bid for one of our players”. It seems likely to be accepted with McCann saying, “it's a player we feel needs to go and play,” without naming names.

Before De Wijs had even left, a homegrown central defender, 19-year-old Adam Smith was making what his coach called an “absolutely outstanding” debut.

“He's just received a big round of applause in the changing room from all the players as well,” revealed McCann.

“He's been training with us now for about two weeks. He comes up now and again when we need numbers.

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“He's like a right-footed (Jacob) Greaves, that's the best way I can describe him and he's going to have a tremendous future at this football club.

“We're hoping he's going to commit to the club for the longer-term and that's great news as well.”

Dan Batty was substituted at half-time despite being the one shining light in the first 45 minutes, but McCann revealed there was no injury involved.

“Batts was actually playing well I the game and I actually pulled him to one side at half-time and said it was nothing to do with his performance, it was more a shape change,” he said. “We wanted Regan (Slater) and George to get a wee bit more up against them high up the pitch.”

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