Hull City's half-time substitutions provided the 'spark', says Grant McCann

HULL CITY manager Grant McCann praised the introduction from the bench of Hakeeb Adelakun and Tom Eaves, who played key roles in the Tigers' 2-0 win over lowly Burton Albion.
Hull City manager Grant McCann.Hull City manager Grant McCann.
Hull City manager Grant McCann.

City failed to make the most of their numerical advantage after Brewers defender Sam Hughes saw red for two early bookings following fouls on Mallik Wilks, with the visiting player leaving the field after just 18 minutes.

It was another untimely blow for Burton, whose top-scorer Kane Hemmings was not involved after being named in the starting line-up, with the one-time Barnsley player missing out due to injury.

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Despite the setbacks, the visitors, inspired by impressive keeper Ben Garratt, managed to go in at the break at 0-0 before the promotion of Adelakun and Eaves for the disappointing duo of James Scott and Thomas Mayer helped perk up the Tigers.

Wilks clinically struck his seventh goal of the season after George Honeyman's free-kick was not cleared on 72 minutes and Adelakun made the game safe with a crisp shot late on as City moved up to second place in League One.

McCann said: "I thought the difference in the second half was that we moved the ball quicker as a team.

"The message at half-time was: 'Don't get frustrated, stay calm, the goal will come. But don't get frustrated if it does not come in the first ten or 15 minutes. Keep plugging away and moving it quickly and trying to overload them on the outside.'

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"It was pleasing to see and another goal came from a set-play and Haks had the second one laid on to make the game more comfortable for us.

"It probably was not the best game for Tommy and Scotty today. I felt Tommy missed an opportunity. He is one of the front players who has not started a (league) game this year.

"He did not play so well at Harrogate, especially in the second half. But he has been impressing people with what he's doing on the training ground.

"It just did not come off for him today and I thought we probably just needed a bit more physicality with Mallik moving to the right hand side (in the second half).

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"They (Adelakun and Eaves) gave us a spark and a lift and it was nice to get the job done.

"I also thought Mallik had a good game. Probably the best he has had for a while, which was pleasing."

On Adelakun's strike, he added: "Haks has also got that in his locker. He can shoot with a low backlift quickly. He obviously has been struggling a little bit with his ankle and had an injection in it and was not himself for a while and he was probably a bit rusty at Harrogate.

"But he is getting back to where he is and he is the sort of player who can see things other cannot. He is a very clever player. He is a real asset for us."

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Assessing the importance of victory over a Burton side who were hampered by the absence of a number of first-team players who have been afflicted by Covid-19, the Hull chief continued: "If you look at their starting 11, they had sixty-plus starts this season in League One. Our starting 11 had seventy.

"We also had Josh Magennis, Keane Lewis-Potter and Lewie Coyle missing. They are still an experienced team with people like Brayford, Bostwick, Eardley and Quinn. Not just at this league, but the one above."

McCann confirmed that Jordy de Wijis was not involved 'due to the form of others', with Jacob Greaves preferred alongside Reece Burke in the heart of the back four.

Meanwhile, the Hull manager also revealed that Keane Lewis-Potter won't be allowed to return to training until Friday with the striker currently self-isolating after his girlfriend displayed symptoms of Coronavirus.

The club had been expecting him back on Monday.

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