The Tigers completed the league double over the Canaries for the first time in the 1970/71 campaign
Philippe Clement at the MKM Stadium(Image: Freddie Yeo/MB Media/Getty Images)
Norwich City head coach Phillipe Clement was full of praise for Hull City after seeing his side beaten 2-1 by the Tigers, which was enough to seal a play-off place.
Clement has sparked a remarkable turnaround of form in Norfolk, and they looked to be on course for another victory when Mohamed Toure slammed in the opener after 26 minutes, to cap a fine start at a nervy MKM Stadium.
The hosts were level within two minutes when Joe Gelhardt was hacked down by Ruairi McConville inside the box, and Oli McBurnie slotted in the penalty. McBurnie lifted the roof off the MKM Stadium with just over 20 minutes to go when he latched onto Matt Crooks’ header to slot in the winner.
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City’s win, coupled with Wrexham’s draw at home to Middlesbrough, saw the hosts claim the final play-off berth, while the Canaries are looking ahead to next season with increased encouragement.
“All credit to Hull (City), but that was not a game we should have lost,” Clement said. “We did our job to get a result, and think we deserved more. Our players showed the right mentality and they – until the last second – (tried) to get a result.
“We deserved more out of this game, but it didn’t happen. We need to focus on ourselves. What we missed to have a really good game was to be more ruthless in the final third. I’m really happy for Hull City to make the play-offs because they have two of my ex-players (John Lundstram and Kieran Dowell).”
Assessing his time at the club he joined in November, Clement added: “The last 26 games we took most points in the league, so it’s an amazing story. Next season, this (the play-offs) will be our target. There’s now a real unity with our fans, so, of course, we want to do something special next season.
“We need the right recruitment and the right players – players will also be coming and going – so that’s a puzzle that will need to be fixed. The most important thing is to focus on ourselves, but to raise our levels with recruitment, with players who are already in the building. I’m really hungry to continue this story (for as long) as possible.”
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