Boss of Portsmouth rival Hull says team is not on slide but demands players get their 'mojo back'

However, the Tigers boss admitted his players need to get their ‘mojo back’ as they recorded a third loss in five league games.

Such a scenario appeared a long way off just three weeks ago when Hull ran out comfortable 4-0 winners against Pompey at Fratton Park.

But since then, the KCOM Stadium outfit have won just once and failed to scored in their past three matches.

That’s allowed Lincoln to take control at the top of the standings – and presented Peterborough, Kenny Jackett’s Blues and Doncaster the opportunity to overtake them in the table if they win their games in hand.

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The Posh are third on goal difference (49 points) but with two games in hand.

Pompey and Donny are fourth and fifth respectively with 48 points but with two and three games played less respectively.

With the pressure clearly on, McCann said their was no need to press the panic button.

But he conceded improvements were needed.

Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, McCann said: ‘Are we on the slide?

‘No, we’re still in a good position in the league with 18 games to go.

‘I think in any season you’re going to have little dips in form and at this present time it’s happening to us, definitely the attacking element to our team and that’s us as a team.

‘We need to get our mojo back, we need to find that killer instinct whether it’s a shot, cross, set-play. Whatever it might be, we need to find that edge to our game.’

Hull’s defeat to the Dons means they’ve taken just four points from a possible 15 since victory at Fratton Park.

That’s been greatly received by those at PO4, with the Blues now firmly back in the race for automatic promotion following back-to-back defeats against the current top two.

And the good news kept coming for in-active Pompey on Saturday, after Doncaster suffered a 4-1 loss at Sunderland.

That’s Darren Moore’s side’s second straight defeat, leaving them below the Blues in the table – albeit with a game in hand.

The former Pompey defender described his side's performance at the Stadium of Light as ‘not god enough’.

He told the Yorkshire Post: ‘From our point of view it's not good enough.

‘All four goals were avoidable really.

‘They were three free headers in the box and an own goal. It tells the story of the game.

‘It's back to the drawing board and back to work on Monday.’

Charlton also slipped up in the race for promotion as they suffered a 3-2 defeat at home to Gillingham.

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