Michael Dawson admits it will be a slog if Hull City are to bounce straight back into the Premier League following the final day relegation, with the defender stating it is the players fault they now find themselves in the Championship.
Hull drew 0-0 with Manchester United on Sunday having required victory to have any chance of surviving although Newcastle United’s 2-0 win over West Ham United meant Steve Bruce’s side were doomed whatever the result.
After spending two seasons in the top-flight Hull will hope to make an instant return. “It is going to be a slog in the Championship. I said when I signed for the club that I would give everything and I will keep doing that,” said the 31-year-old Dawson, who joined from Spurs last summer.
Despite being relegated the sell-out at the KC Stadium gave the team a standing ovation at the final whistle. “The fans were fantastic,” added Dawson. “The players that the owners and manager have brought in – they spent a lot of money – and we haven’t performed. We should have done better and should be in the Premier League. The fans stuck by us.
“It wasn’t [the United result] that sent us down. We performed with the pressure on us. We huffed and puffed and maybe it has been like that all season. We created chances and couldn’t get the ball in the net. That has happened too many times this season. We have had games we should have won and when we’ve been ahead we have drawn. One game that stands out is the early one against Newcastle when we are 2-0 up and they come back [to draw 2-2 in late September] and go on a five-game run. We haven’t done that.”
He added: “I think after 38 games you look at every game you haven’t been good enough. I always say after 38 games you end up where you deserve and we haven’t been good enough.”
James Chester believes being part of the team that has been sent down is a stain on every player’s CV. “This is the worst moment. This is a moment that will haunt us for the rest of our lives. It really hurts,” he said. “But as sad as it is you need to get over it as quickly as possible as football doesn’t stand still. I know more than anyone how difficult the Championship is.
“We are bitterly disappointed. It is a failure that we will all have on our career for the rest of our days. It is a difficult one to take, especially when you look round the changing room at the players we have. I think today we had six or seven in the team that got us promoted but as good as we think we are, we need help,” he said, suggesting the squad lacks depth.
“I think we’ve shown [against United] that we have the squad to compete in this division. I’m ready for the fight to get us back up. We have to be. It will a difficult few weeks but football moves quickly and we have to do if we stand any chance of bouncing straight back up.”
