The Tigers are back in action on Monday night in the North East
Matt Crooks admits Hull City’s 4-1 thumping at home to Middlesbrough just over three weeks ago gives the Tigers extra incentive ahead of the return meeting at the Riverside Stadium against his former club.
City kick off the second half of their season on Teesside on Monday night, looking for revenge after being thumped at the beginning of the month, having been four down at the break.
Since that MKM Stadium humbling, City have gone four games unbeaten, but did see their three-match winning run come to a disappointing end on Boxing Day, with a 2-2 draw at League One-bound Sheffield Wednesday which kept the Tigers fourth in the league, five points adrift of Boro in second.
“It’s going to be a difficult game,” Crooks said of Boro. “They’re going well, second in the league, new manager, new style of player, but we’re fourth in the league, so it’s one of them.
“We’ve got to believe in ourselves. Those are the games that if you want to do anything this year, you’ve got to go there with the belief that you’re gonna win and take the three points, so the lads will be focusing on that.
“I think that 45 minutes we played was probably the worst 45 minutes we’ve had since the gaffer came in, so yeah, it’ll be good to go up there and prove a point. We’ll be going to every game wanting to win, but it gives us that extra incentive with what happened at our gaff.”
Crooks also praised the Tigers following at Hillsborough, with a sold-out away following in the Steel City, and it’ll be the same at Middlesbrough.
“A sold-out away end on Boxing Day, and it made for a good atmosphere, and I know they’ve sold out Middlesbrough,” the experienced campaigner explained.
“They’re following us through all sorts at the minute. On a personal note, I’ve done my raffle for the Jordan Sinnott Foundation Trust, and they’ve been uber generous, especially at this time of year, so just a personal thank you from me.”
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