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Mike Phelan hopes EFL Cup run can give Hull a lift

Mike Phelan hopes the EFL Cup run will boost Hull
Image: Mike Phelan hopes the EFL Cup run will boost Hull in the league

Mike Phelan hopes Hull's EFL Cup run can lift the "gloomy" atmosphere caused by the Tigers' slide down the Premier League table.

Five successive league defeats have seen Hull drop into the relegation zone after a bright start to their Premier League, but the Tigers' 2-1 win at Bristol City on Tuesday night took them into the last eight of the EFL Cup for the second successive year.

"We tried to change it a little bit to get a smile back on everyone's faces," Phelan said after celebrating his first win since being handed the Hull job on a full-time basis.

"It has been quite gloomy when you're getting beat week in and week out.

"But you can see in the dressing room that a win's a win and it does mean a lot.

"It gives you confidence to start again, because we all know the Premier League is unforgiving at times. We showed that we can win football matches again so let's move forward."

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Highlights of the EFL Cup round of 16 match between Bristol City and Hull City

Central defenders Harry Maguire and Michael Dawson got the goals either side of the break for Hull, converting headers from Ryan Mason's corners and despite a late goal from Bristol City, they held on and can now focus on crucial fixtures in the league, starting with Watford at the weekend.

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And Phelan said: "You never know what the reaction is going to be. You can only look forward to trying to win the next game.

"We've done that today and for the next couple of days we can enjoy ourselves.

"We can look forward to Saturday a little bit differently."

Michael Dawson of Hull City (R) scores his side's second goal
Image: Michael Dawson of Hull City (R) scores his side's second goal

With the news that midfielder Robert Snodgrass will be ruled out for at least four weeks with a ankle injury, Phelan said the situation is part of football.

"He (Snodgrass) came off the field at Stoke with a swollen ankle, very swollen and we thought it would have been worse actually than the news we had. Nobody wants to be injured, but it's part of the game and he will recover and will probably be ready after the international break."

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