Hull City players take part in a minutes applause ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City and Leeds United at the MKM Stadium, Hull. Picture by Matt Wilkinson/Focus Images Ltd 07814 960751 20/09/2023
Hull City’s dressing room verdict after season ends in disappointment and upset
The Tigers’ campaign ended in defeat on the South Coast against Plymouth
Hull City skipper Lewie Coyle admits his side finished where they deserved to after missing out on the Championship play-offs by three points, but says he won’t give up on the dream of leading his side to the Premier League.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Plymouth Argyle proved largely immaterial as West Brom won 3-0 at home against Preston North End to ensure City had no chance of overpowering them on the final day irrespective of their result, but the manner of the performance and the result which went with it left the visitors frustrated.
Coyle, who was a second half arrival when he came on to replace Regan Slater, says the dressing room is hurting and that it will take time to recover from the disappointment of missing out on the top six place they craved, but is determined to return in pre-season stronger for the experience.
READ MORE: Acun Ilicali’s classy gesture to Hull City fans ahead of Plymouth Argyle match
“We’re absolutely gutted; the emotion in the dressing room just shows how much it meant to us to give ourselves a chance to get in the play-offs and have that dream of going up,” he told Hull Live at Home Park.
“It’s a dream of mine to try and captain my hometown club back to the Premier League and it’s a dream I’ll never stop chasing and I know the group in there won’t stop chasing until it’s achieved.
We gave it everything we had. Obviously, we needed to win and hope that results went our way, but over the course of the season, I think it’s a true reflection of where you are at the end of the season. We have loads to learn from this season, there’s been so many ups and obviously a few downs – that’s a season in football.
“We have to regroup, try and keep this amazing, unbelievably spirited group together as best we can and we go again next season, it’s a tough one at the minute, to be honest.”
