Grant McCann keen to keep Hull City’s emotions in check during promotion charge

If his club win at Lincoln City on Saturday, they will be promoted to the Championship, redemption for McCann who took them into League One last summer. As things stand, they need to win all three remaining games to claim the title, their aim at the start of the season.

They went behind twice on Tuesday to a Sunderland side who also hit the woodwork twice. Hull were livid Charlie Wyke was only booked for elbowing Jacob Greaves, and when a penalty was given as the ball struck Callum Elder’s hands, in a natural position, at point-blank range.

Despite occasional sparks they generally kept their cool and claimed a point with two Josh Magennis goals.

“I was really pleased,” reflected McCann. “I spoke to them at half-time and said, ‘Leave the officials alone. Leave that to myself and Cliff (Byrne, his assistant).’ When you get on to officials decisions can go against you.”

It gives McCann confidence his players can see the job out.

“We feel calm, we feel confident and we approach each game as it comes,” he said. “The boys’ reaction in the dressing room was really focused and ready to prepare for Saturday.

“We’ve still got three games left. Everyone seems to focus on Lincoln but we will be as focused on each of those games.

“We know if we beat Lincoln we’ll be promoted but then there’s another prize after that (winning the title) which the players would like to do.

“They’ve stayed grounded throughout the whole season, even when we’ve lost or been on a poor run and everyone gets on our back. We’re not there yet but we’ll give it everything for Hull City for the fans, for everybody to get to where we want to.”

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