City’s impressive home form continued on Saturday
For the first time in two years, Hull City can enjoy what it feels like to be back inside the Championship’s top six after coming from behind to beat Portsmouth.
In what was a typically sticky, difficult game against a side fighting at the wrong end of the league, City were 3-2 winners thanks to goals from Enis Destan on his full debut, Kyle Joseph and a stunner from Joe Gelhardt in the closing stages.
All that means that after 15 games, City sit fifth in the table with a fifth win in their last seven Championship outings as we enter the latest break for international football.
Here, City reporter Barry Cooper reflects on another home success….
Into the top six they go
After 15 games, Hull City have 25 points, and that’s enough to have them inside the top six going into the November international break, which is probably more than anyone could have expected at the start of the season.
Since returning from the October break, Jakirovic’s men have amassed 13 from a possible 18, which is a stunning return for a group of players still getting to grips with a new manager, crippled by injuries.
In truth, but for defensive calamities against Charlton Athletic and at Derby County, it should be 18. That might be a strong statement, and they’ve ridden their luck at times as you need to in this league, but it’s not unreasonable to suggest that impressive tally could, and should, be higher.
The fact that we can even talk in those terms shows what amazing progress has been made. Nothing, of course, has been achieved yet, but you can’t help but be impressed with the start.
Home comforts
I remember the joy felt around the MKM Stadium back in the summer when City beat Sunderland in a pre-season game. It was only a friendly, but everyone was just pleased to see the Tigers win at home. Jakirovic has spoken openly about the need to make the MKM Stadium a fortress, and it is.
Five wins, two draws, and one defeat is a very good return in the opening eight home games, especially when you factor in that run includes visits from Southampton, Sheffield United and Leicester City.
No team in the Championship has taken more than the 17 points the Tigers have from their home games so far, and that’s impressive given they only won five games in the whole of last season.
Fingers crossed, the majority of the 23,000 who turned up will be back when City host Ipswich Town in what looks an absolute corker after the break.
Joff’s delight
Joe Gelhardt continues to deliver and has proved to be one of the best loan signings in the whole of the Championship over the past 12 months or so.
The 23-year-old grabbed his seventh goal of the season, having taken down Charlie Hughes’ exceptional ball over the top to unlock Pompey’s defence.
Questions were raised about where the goals would come from without Oli McBurnie, but Gelhardt has stepped up and performed, adding in some valuable assists, too.
The ongoing concern
We’ve said it week after week about City, and it’s worth saying again; there’s so much to like, to admire and be excited about with what this team are doing.
The major concern is their defensive frailties. The risk is that if City, as a collective, don’t get a grip on their issues, it could undermine all their good work and promise.
Those two goals against Pompey were really poor. Ivor Pandur has to hold the initial free-kick instead of punching when he’s in acres of space and under no pressure, and then the second, Amir has to be smarter and realise he just isn’t going to get that much time on the ball in this league. When he’s lost it, he must then give everything to stop their best player, Josh Murphy, from swinging over a cross. It was all too soft.
As good as Charlie Hughes and Ryan Giles were, they cannot be sleeping and allow a player to walk into the box and head into their net. Only the two Sheffield clubs have shipped more than City’s 24, and the ones they’re conceding are all absolutely avoidable. They’re all from players switching off. It’s nothing to do with shape, structure or anything like that; it’s all to do with really basic errors. Get that right and they will ensure they remain in the shake-up.
What underpins it all
City are scoring plenty of goals with only Coventry City’s 40 above their 26, but there’s one major factor that’s contributing to what’s been a stunning start to the campaign. And that’s their work ethic.
The way Lewie Coyle chased a lost cause to win his side a corner led to Gelhardt’s delivery for Joseph to head them 2-1 in front was symptomatic of the character running through the team. Charlie Hughes getting back on the line to head the ball away was another.
Deep in stoppage time at the end, Joseph raced to close down the Pompey goalkeeper and block his clearance, sending the ball all the way back from midway inside their half out for a goal-kick.
There’s much to admire about Jakirovic’s team, but above all else, it’s the heart they show. The willingness to get about the pitch and put the graft in.
Here at Hull Live , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group.
You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service.
Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.