Hull City have the squad to tackle winter campaign

The sight of his Hull City side resplendent in second spot with a highly-creditable 24 points from 11 league matches is enriching enough. His own role in achieving that should provide further nourishment.

Defences win titles and strikers win matches. Managers earn their money by successfully changing the narrative of games.

McCann did just that in the Tigers’ previous league victory at Bristol Rovers on October 27.

With his side trailing 1-0, his triple substitution reaped a huge dividend just before the hour mark with replacements Keane Lewis-Potter, Regan Slater and Tom Eaves coming on and finding the net in a 3-1 triumph.

On Saturday, the interval arrival of Hakeeb Adelakun and Eaves turned the tide for Hull, who needed to do more against 10-man Burton and duly did.

As McCann correctly opined, it was not a day for panic with his half-time instructions to his side to quicken up the pace a notch or two and find gaps on the flanks to stretch the Brewers – down to 10 men on 18 minutes after Sam Hughes was dismissed for two bookings – being spot on.

His decision to take off wingers Thomas Mayer and James Scott, who did not make the most of being handed league starts, was also a smart move and the right one. Both could not complain and did not do enough.

By contrast, Adelakun, who struck late on to seal it and Eaves, despite missing one glorious chance when sent clear, put their hand up and made an impact.

On a day when City were without the duo of Keane Lewis-Potter and Josh Magennis, McCann’s side still had offensive options and ultimately found a way.

Their squad remains one of the best in the division and at this part of the campaign when winter is nigh and the season can become a slog, such a thing can come into its own.

Especially in these times when Coronavirus and self-isolation has also entered into the equation, with Lewis-Potter missing the weekend game after his girlfriend reported symptoms associated with Covid-19.

It was nothing like the problems experienced by Burton, who would have called the game off if they had had their way.

Their squad was depleted by Covid-19, with a number of absentees. Matters were compounded when top-scorer Kane Hemmings – named on the teamsheet – was a late cry-off with injury.

That said, as McCann pointed out, it was a starting line-up which still boasted experience.

Hull were still on most people’s coupons to win. With a bit of help from McCann at the right time, they made sure they did and to most onlookers, the league table looks healthy ahead of some key tests against the likes of Ipswich Town and Doncaster Rovers.

Yet left-back Callum Elder issued a note of caution.

He said: “It is a long time (to go). You do not really want to start looking at league tables.

“We have started (the season) off strong and what we need is a strong side (consistently).

“The league is relentless. The way this season has been more condensed, there will be a lot of midweek games and you have to be consistent and at it every game if you want to achieve success because every team in this division has threats that will hurt you.

“We put in a real professional performance. It is difficult with 10 men. They dropped back and tried to hold on to what they had got, the longer the game went on.

“For us, patience was key. In the first half, we were getting a little frustrated with ourselves.

“We came in at half-time and the manager said that against a team who goes down to 10 men, we needed to move the ball quicker and tire them out and I think we did that in the second half.

“We executed our game-plan well and we came away with two good goals and a clean sheet.”

By contrast, Burton’s game-plan was further hit by the loss of Hemmings, with Indiana Vassilev promoted to the start line-up.

He lasted all of 18 minutes with the youngster sacrificed after the dismissal of Hughes following two fouls on Wilks.

Both were silly. Some referees may have given Hughes a final warning after his second challenge on Wilks when he wriggled past him, but by the letter of the law, John Busby was right.

Much of what Busby did for the rest of the game infuriated McCann, who was incensed that City were not awarded penalties after Adelakun and Eaves went down on the restart. In the final analysis, it did not affect the result.

The first half saw Cottingham lad Jacob Greaves, with the ink drying on his new deal, threaten from set-pieces, with goalkeeper Ben Garratt making a tidy save from his downward header on a day when he performed admirably.

It was Wilks who proved the real irritant and went close on a couple of occasions, and Garratt denied George Honeyman’s header with an alert tip over and Scott spurned a golden chance.

Burton, who had gone close early on through Ryan Edwards, fired a second-half warning when Neal Eardley’s fine free-kick flashed just wide and it was the cue for Hull to take the hint.

Wilks showed instincts of a centre-forward to clinically fire the loose ball home after Honeyman’s free-kick was not cleared.

Adelakun, a lively operator, had opportunities to seal it, and Eaves, who added physicality to the Tigers’ forward line, spurned a chance when sent clear.

Adelakun’s pinpoint angled low drive settled it and a game which had the look of being straightforward before kick-off finally became routine.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.