Oli McBurnie explains why he 'wanted to headbutt a wall' after Hull City meeting
Oli McBurnie explains why he 'wanted to headbutt a wall' before Hull City's clash with Norwich City
Hull City marksman Oli McBurnie wanted to “headbutt a wall” after being rallied in a meeting arranged by teammates Lewie Coyle and John Egan.
Prior to Hull’s regular season finale against Norwich City, captain Coyle and seasoned professional Egan assembled the players.
It clearly had the desired effect, as the Tigers leapfrogged Wrexham to book a place in the Championship play-offs with a 2-1 win over the Canaries. McBurnie appeared particularly motivated, charging down defenders with admirable gusto and grabbing both of Hull’s goals.
The 29-year-old wanted the contents of the meeting to remain private, but was happy to discuss the impact it had on him.
Oli McBurnie motivated by meeting
“The skip (Coyle) and Eges (Egan) called a meeting yesterday (Friday, May 1) with just the boys off their own back,” he told The Yorkshire Post. “The leadership showed there and the words that got spoke is something that really resonates with you.
“You guys don't see that, but the leadership they showed in the meeting we had... I wanted to headbutt a wall when I walked out of that meeting.
“I was raging I had to wait 24 hours to play the game after that meeting. You're surrounded by people you really want to be in the trenches with.”
Hull City’s experienced heads
McBurnie, who has registered 18 goals in all competitions this season, is among the experienced operators Hull will need to lean on in the play-offs.
Sergej Jakirović’s side will face Millwall across two legs, fighting for the right to face either Middlesbrough or Southampton at Wembley.
“I think it's (experience) been massive all season,” McBurnie said. “I think that's a big reason we've been so successful.
“At times we haven't been the best team to watch or played the best stuff. But that know-how and then the character, even today, coming off the run that we've come off and then the other two teams (Wrexham and Derby County) on the runs that they're coming on, we're probably the least favoured team to go and get it done.
“You look around that dressing room and it's full of that (experience), and I think that's massive.”