Grant McCann has no doubts over Leeds United's promotion credentials but today's defeat 'won't define' Hull City season

Grant McCann has no doubt that Leeds United will go on to clinch promotion, after they put his Hull City side to the sword today at the KCOM.
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The Tigers boss watched in despair as an early goal in each half took the game away from Hull, before Tyler Roberts' late brace compounded the misery.

He had been reasonably encouraged by what he saw in the first half, after Luke Ayling's deflected shot opened the scoring on five minutes.

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"The early goal has knocked us but I think we came back, rallied around a bit," he said.

"We wanted to try and get amongst them, we were. We didn't test the keeper enough. We lost the ball too easily.

"When you're in the run we're in it can hit you, you're pressing and not just quite getting there, even the first goal a deflection ends up in the back of the net. That's just the way it's going for us at the minute.

"Apart from the shot that hit the crossbar, there was very little in the first half."

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The Hull plan was to crowd Kalvin Phillips so he couldn't dictate play for Leeds and McCann felt confident it would result in a formation change for the visitors - which transpired when Marcelo Bielsa switched from a back four to a back three.

Pablo Hernandez' early second half goal knocked Hull City's confidence, said Grant McCann (Pic: Tony Johnson)Pablo Hernandez' early second half goal knocked Hull City's confidence, said Grant McCann (Pic: Tony Johnson)
Pablo Hernandez' early second half goal knocked Hull City's confidence, said Grant McCann (Pic: Tony Johnson)

But when Leeds came out after the interval and scored within two minutes, through Pablo Hernandez, that rattled his team again and put the wind in the sails of a side he's tipping to play Premier League football next season.

"We wanted to get around Phillips and stop him playing. Martin was taking the ball off him a lot, we did well in the first half," he said.

"We knew they'd probably go to a three at the back and they did. I didn't really sense any danger. Second half the early goal has thrown it open.

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"The goal just after half-time knocked the confidence I think again and Leeds were good after that. They're a top team, I've no doubt they'll probably go and get promoted this year.

"Leeds are a very good team, serious energy, serious legs, pace throughout the team and very good in transition as we saw at Elland Road. The last two goals were on transitions, we know it was a big part of their plan but we just couldn't keep up.

"If we're looking at them, a team that's been together two, two and half years. This won't define our season, we've got some big games coming up."

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