Tigers must go for goals to hit next season’s play-offs

WITH a goal tally hugely inferior to all but a handful of sides in the Championship, Hull City fans do not have to look far for the main reason why next month’s play-offs will take place without their team.

Forty-four goals from as many league games is a return more normally associated with a team battling against relegation and for the Tigers it vividly tells the story of what will ultimately go down as a frustrating campaign.

As recently as a month ago, City occupied a place in the play-offs but a run of five straight defeats – in the process scoring just one goal – meant the odds were soon firmly against Nick Barmby’s men finishing in the top six.

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Those hopes were finally extinguished on Tuesday night when, despite beating Barnsley 3-1, Hull, who finished 11th last season, were left six points adrift of Cardiff City in sixth place. With the Welsh side having a vastly superior goal difference, it means the Tigers cannot now extend their season beyond April 28.

For Matty Fryatt, whose hat-trick against the Reds cemented his place at the top of the City scoring charts, missing out on the play-offs is a major disappointment and he knows just what has to improve come next season.

He said: “We have to massively improve the number of goals we score next season. Teams don’t get into the play-offs by scoring 44 goals.

“The teams at the top score near enough 100 goals so it is an area we need to address. That is what has cost us.

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“There are good things going on here but goals win games. We have to be on the front foot with that.

“It is up to the manager what he does but we have found it difficult to score goals. So, there needs to be a few tweaks to allow us to push on next season.”

Fryatt’s second hat-trick in Hull colours – his first came last term against Scunthorpe United – helped take the East Yorkshire club on to 65 points, the tally they finished with last term.

Any form of reward, therefore, from Saturday’s home game against Nottingham Forest and the final day trip to West Ham United will represent progress for Barmby’s men.

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For Fryatt, however, there is no doubt that whatever happens in those two games then the overriding feeling come the summer will be one of frustration.

The City top scorer said: “In terms of points, if we get more than last year it is progress. But those five defeats we had in a row are disappointing.

“Hopefully, we can end strongly. There will be a feeling of, ‘what if?’ come the season but I think that is down to us not having scored enough goals this season.

“That is the main thing. With that, you are normally on the front foot. I also look at the home draws we have had and that is what costs you come the end of the season.”

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Fryatt’s treble took his goal tally for the season to 15, meaning he is five clear of nearest challenger, Robert Koren, in the race to finish as the club’s top scorer.

The Hull striker said: “You always have a goal tally in your mind at the start. But then you have to reflect during a season as to how things are going.

“It has to be adjusted game by game and then see what is feasible. You measure it from there.

“I can’t remember what I had in mind at the start but I have adjusted it. Hopefully, I can get a few more before the end of the season.

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“It is my second hat-trick for Hull so I was delighted, especially as it set us up for a win.

“We want to finish the season strongly and we have had three decent results. After Millwall, we had a meeting where a few home truths were said.

“Since then, everyone has responded excellently. We still have fixtures to play and want to get more points and goals for the fans.”

Despite crashing to defeat at the KC Stadium for the second consecutive season, Barnsley did secure their Championship status on Tuesday night thanks to Coventry City losing at home to Millwall.

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The Sky Blues’ defeat means they trail fifth bottom Reds by seven points with two games to go.

Manager Keith Hill said: “We have secured our Championship status. It leaves a little bit of a bitter taste in the mouth because our form up to January was absolutely superb.

“It gave us a lot of encouragement. But the atmosphere in the dressing room (after the defeat to Hull) was shocking.

“I cannot accept performances like the one we put in during the first half.”

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On Barnsley extending their stay in the second tier to a seventh season, Hill added: “They are pleased to have saved our Championship status. It is a 46-game season and it is what you do over the season that matters.

“I didn’t know what was happening elsewhere, not until the end when the Barnsley fans were chanting. I did think things were going our way.”

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