Plymouth Argyle v Hull City - Josh Magennis determined to keep title rivals 'in rear-view mirror'

The Tigers visit Plymouth Argyle this afternoon three points clear at the top of League One, albeit having played more games than second-placed Peterborough United and Sunderland, who sit third.

Back-to-back victories over the Easter weekend combined with Posh and the Black Cats drawing 1-1 strengthened the East Yorkshire club’s position, and they now know that if they keep winning then it would require a faultless end to the campaign from their title rivals and a significant swing in goal-difference for them to finish outside the automatic promotion places.

Thus, Northern Ireland international striker Josh Magennis says City are intent on keeping the chasing pack “in the rear-view mirror.”

The 13-goal centre-forward said: “Two wins over the weekend was absolutely perfect. It not only put us in a better position, it kept the pressure on the teams below us.

“The result between Peterborough and Sunderland couldn’t have gone much better for us but it’s pointless if we don’t keep winning. The gaffer made it very clear a few months ago we don’t want to get into the situation where we’re relying on other teams. We want to be the one looking in the rear-view mirror.

“The only way we can keep being in the driving seat is keep winning. Will that happen? Only God knows but we’ll sure give it a try to be as positive and efficient as we can.

“It’s fully in our hands now and that’s how we want it because we’ve got a squad and team that can beat anybody and we’ve just got to go and show that.”

Having got themselves into such a strong position courtesy of a nine-match unbeaten run which has included seven victories, were Hull not to go on and secure an immediate return to the Championship then it would be something of a disaster for head coach Grant McCann.

But, while 30-year-old Magennis concedes that he and his Tigers team-mates are feeling the pressure of their situation, he says they must “embrace” it.

“We’re looking forward to the run-in,” he added.

“There's obviously apprehension there because everybody desperately wants to win games and after Saturday there will only be five left.

“It's just trying to stay level-headed and use our experience and the youth in the best possible way and just keep repeating what has got us success so far. I know from the outside looking in it can look daunting but we're just taking each day as it comes.

“The pressure’s there but it’s not the sort of pressure we had last season at the same stage. We have to embrace it, to try and be promoted and we’ve just got to take that and run with it.

We just take one game at a time.”