Blackpool boss Neil Critchley hails Hull but was not shocked by leaders' defeat by Shrewsbury

The league leaders make the trip to Bloomfield Road for a 7pm kick-off looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 loss against struggling Shrewsbury Town, who remain third from bottom in the table.

Grant McCann’s side, who were relegated from the Championship last season, have won 11 of their 16 league games so far this term.

Reflecting on Hull’s unexpected home defeat three days ago, Critchley said: “It was a surprise result in many ways. But in some ways it wasn’t because I watch a lot of games and I’ve seen a lot of the teams, and I know there’s not a lot between the teams in this division.

“If you’re not quite right on the day, then those results can happen. There’s not a massive difference between top and bottom, I think the points reflect that.

“Hull wouldn’t have been expecting that result but Shrewsbury have got a new manager in Steve Cotterill. They possibly have a different way of playing and maybe they caught Hull a little bit by surprise.

“But they’ll be ready to bounce back against us on Tuesday night, that’s for certain.”

Hull’s turnaround this season is even more impressive given the torrid run of results the Tigers suffered that ultimately led to their demotion to the third tier.

Following a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday on New Year’s Day, Hull sat in ninth place in the Championship and just a point outside the play-off spots.

But the Tigers won just one of their remaining 20 league games, leaving them bottom of the table come their season finally ended in late July.

Critchley added: “It’s been a big turnaround for them. They were near the play-offs in the Championship in January but then they went on a real bad run. Psychologically, the players would have been feeling that, especially as they didn’t have a long (close-season) break.

“But that just shows you the ability and strength of character Grant McCann has got as a manager.

“He’s turned that wave of emotion and those feelings and reversed it.

“They’re top of the table for a reason. They’re in good form... or they were until Saturday. They’re winning games, they’re scoring goals and they’re difficult to play against.

“You only have to look at their bench to see that they’ve got quality players.”

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