City will aim to respond to Saturday’s disappointment against Preston when they return to MKM Stadium action on Tuesday night
Sergej Jakirovic has praised striker Oliver McBurnie but says his Hull City team simply have to sort out their defence if they’re to avoid wasting their potential, demanding his side become much more combative.
City have conceded 14 goals in their last six games, 17 if you factor in the three they conceded at Wrexham in the Carabao Cup exit last month, and it’s holding them back.
McBurnie scored his fifth goal of the season to give City the lead at Watford on Saturday, before he came close to making it 2-0 when his curling effort cannoned back off the post. HIs performance was enough to be named in the Team of the Week for a third time this season.
In the second half, however, City were poor and conceded twice to two poor goals against a Watford side who were booed off at half-time by their fans who chanted for manager Paulo Pezzolano to be sacked.
Jakirovic is desperate to fix the defensive issues as his side now prepares for the first of two home games this week, starting with Preston North End on Tuesday night, followed by the Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United on Saturday.
“McBurnie was perfect, he’s doing his job, but we have to sort out our defence,” he confessed. “If we sort the defence, everything will be good. In the first half, we were very good; in the second half, we were below average. We were not so good. I’m disappointed that we lost, and so are the players,” the head coach said.
“There were moments where we could have punished them to make it two or 3-0. That would have ended it. But in the second half, we didn’t even get close to the way we played for the first 45 minutes.”
“I’ve told the players we must keep our heads up and we are going forward. We cannot change anything. We must take our lessons and keep going.
“It’s frustrating for everyone. We have to change things and try to be more stable behind and much more aggressive in the duels. We must have the plan of how we will defend, how we will attack, and I hope it will be better (than against Watford).”
The Lilywhites have enjoyed a bright start and sit sixth in the Championship with three wins and three draws from their opening seven games. While they don’t score many, Paul Heckingbottom’s side have the joint-best defensive record, conceding just five, and the Croatian is acutely aware of the threats they’ll pose.
“Every game here is very difficult, and what I learned so far is that even a small mistake, they will punish you. They will not miss, but OK, this is football.
“We know the pluses and minuses of Preston; they’re a tough team. They know what they’re doing on the pitch. They are very good in transitions, very good in set pieces, so we will prepare something. I hope we will find the answers to all challenges, and with our crowd, we will find a way to get three points.”
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