Hull City look to put the dampeners on Steve Evans’ play-off aspirations

Credit: Hull City

League leaders Hull City entertain Gillingham at the KCOM Stadium this weekend as they look to take full advantage of Peterborough United’s slip up against Blackpool in midweek.

Although only mathematically, the Tigers now have the upper hand over second-placed Peterborough, with Sunderland still able to catch them if they can win their games in hand. In the knowledge that automatic promotion is now in their own hands, there will be increased pressure on City to secure promotion back into the Championship at the first time of asking.

The Tigers are in solid if not spectacular form but are now unbeaten in six games having overcome a potential banana skin at Shrewsbury Town last weekend. Greg Docherty’s well-taken equaliser ensured that City salvaged a point having gone behind to an unfortunate own goal from ‘keeper Matt Ingram.

For the first time in a number of weeks, Grant McCann’s men will have enjoyed a midweek without a game and will be recharged and ready for the challenge that Gillingham will provide.

Going into the season’s climax, five more wins should see the Tigers secure automatic promotion and with some winnable games on paper either side of the visit of Sunderland and trip to Lincoln, McCann will be looking to secure another home win but is well aware of the threat that Gillingham possesses.

“I watched them against Lincoln and they should have won five or six. That’s not an exaggeration – they were excellent.

“They’ve got a manager who knows how to do it. It’ll be a tough game. They’ve got a centre forward in form (Vadaine Oliver), a wide player who has crossed more balls than anyone else in the division by about a hundred in Jordan Graham.

“We know we’re in for a tough game and we know what to expect from them.”

There could be opportunities for the likes of Tom Eaves and Dan Crowley to get a place in the starting line up with both Josh Magennis and Gavin Whyte joining up with the Northern Ireland squad. Wary that the pair are both carrying minor injury concerns, McCann has already spoken with boss Ian Barraclough about the situation as he hopes that both players return from international duty unscathed.

Both players will be a miss for City particularly Whyte who had just been starting to find his feet at the KCOM since his loan move from Cardiff City. Magennis’ experience and physicality could also be a notable absence but Tom Eaves, who hasn’t started a game since January will be chomping at the bit to get back on the scoresheet against his former club.

Although he may be seen as the natural replacement for Magennis in terms of physicality, McCann was quick to point out during his pre-match press conference that there’s much more to Eaves’ game than the perceived target man tag he’s been labelled with.

“People can make assumptions about Tom but we know what type of player we’ve got here. When he’s on form, he’s a very good player. He’s a goal scorer and his record speaks for itself in this league.”

The Gils will make the visit to Humberside in confident mood as they seek to make a late charge into the play-off positions. Manager Steve Evans has become increasingly vocal in recent weeks with his side on a run of four wins in their last six games and scoring goals for fun.

Attacking midfielder Jordan Graham has been in excellent form with eleven goals, six assists and a 77% successful past completion rate, he possesses the ability to hurt the league leaders and with John Akinde and Oliver both enjoying good seasons, Evans will be confident that his side can cause an upset.

Following an emphatic 0-3 away win at Lincoln City and 2-2 draw against fellow play-off hopefuls Doncaster Rovers, Evans’ side won’t be deterred on laying down the gauntlet to City’s Tigers. Just two points off sixth place, the Gill’s manager has unashamedly been talking up their promotion chances

“If we can sneak into those play-offs then we will be in the Championship next year and that is the test, the test is if we are good enough to get in there, if we do then its cup-tie football and I have the best squad for cup-tie football sitting in our dressing room.”

Whilst Oxford United failed to impose themselves physically on City in their previous home win, Evans will have his Gillingham side pumped, primed and ready to ruffle a few feathers come 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

Whilst the finishing line is almost on the horizon, there is still a lot of football to be played in what promises to be an exciting climax to the League One promotion race.