City’s home form has improved immeasurably from the disaster of last term
Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur says the growing connection between head coach Sergej Jakirovic, the players and supporters is a special feeling.
City are back in action at the MKM Stadium on Tuesday night when they host Leicester City, looking to make it three wins in a row after Saturday’s away day success at Birmingham City and potentially launch themselves into the top six with victory over the Foxes.
The Tigers’ home form has been in stark contrast to the struggles of last term, when it took until Christmas for City to win just their second outing, and it was March before the third arrived.
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Wins over Oxford United, Southampton and Sheffield United have increased optimism, while their stirring fightback from two down to draw 2-2 with Preston North End showed great character. Their only loss so far came against Blackburn Rovers, and despite losing 3-0, there were mitigating factors with a sickness bug sweeping through the camp in the days leading up to the game.
Pandur, who repelled a late Blades penalty to preserve the three points in their last home outing, says making the MKM Stadium an enjoyable place for Tigers supporters has been a key part of Jakirovic’s philosophy.
“One hundred per cent,” Pandur said about the difference in feeling. “I think you can see the energy in the stadium, it’s higher than last season, but it makes sense because we didn’t play good at home last season, did we?
“I think it’s something that they (the fans) also deserve because, finally, we are scoring goals and it’s making them happy, and that’s the best thing when we can make this connection playing all together, fans and us in the same place, it’s the best.
“We want to make it as hard as we can for everybody coming here. They cannot think it will be easy. That’s our house, and we are acting like it. Whoever comes here, our job is to make it as difficult as it can be for them, so that’s our goal.”
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