Grant McCann reveals the blueprint behind Hull's defeat of Portsmouth

The Blues were well below par as they were thrashed 4-0 by their promotion rivals at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Two Jack Whatmough own goals, George Honey's effort and a strike from Josh Magennis meant it was an afternoon to forget for Kenny Jackett's men.

Pompey’s six-match unbeaten streak came to an end and they missed out on a chance to move into the League One automatic promotion spots.

McCann revealed he based his tactics around defensive solidity given the potency of the Blues in the final third.

And the Hull boss heaped praise on his team's performance.

McCann told the Tigers’ website: ‘We had to make sure we were good defensively and I thought we were. That was the carrot for us to go and score some goals at the other end.

‘I’m pleased with the goals, particularly the third one. The icing on the cake with big Josh coming on to get the fourth.

‘It was a controlled performance. Portsmouth were the form team coming into this having lost once in 15 games I think with clean sheets in the last six.

'We knew we had to be good offensively, we had to be structured.

'They’re high energy in the centre of the park and they’ve got a centre forward (John Marquis) who I know from Doncaster, who doesn’t stop running,

‘We picked every loose ball up, we played forward, we got our full-backs out and we looked a threat every time we went forward. I’m really, really pleased.’