City’s impressive run at the MKM Stadium was ended by promoition favourites Ipswich
Hull City’s resistance was eventually broken by Ipswich Town on Tuesday night when two goals in the second half condemned the Tigers to a second consecutive Championship defeat.
Despite delivering a plucky performance for nearly 70 minutes, the Tractor Boys’ extensive options proved decisive with Jaden Philogene and Chuba Akpom both stepping off the bench to deliver fatal blows.
For City, who had first-half chances through Joel Ndala, Joe Gelhardt and Kyle Joseph, it was just the third game of the season where they’ve failed to find the back of the net.
Here, Tigers reporter Barry Cooper reflects on a frustrating MKM Stadium evening….
Big absentees having an impact
City have done so well to get so many good results in recent weeks, given they’ve been missing Oli McBurnie, John Lundstram and Liam Millar, while Mo Belloumi hasn’t been fit. Throw into the mix that Matt Crooks was suspended, and that’s half their outfield team unavailable, and ultimately was a deciding factor.
These are not just fringe players; they’re influential performers who can win games on their own. It’s not a case of making excuses, it’s a real factor.
We’ve said it all season that if they’re capable of challenging this season, they need their big players fit and available, and against a team of that quality, they really needed them, and their respective absences were apparent.
A huge reality check
This was always going to be their toughest test of the season, against a side in good form and with the quality they have. For 65 minutes or so, City were decent enough. They were well disciplined, they were organised without really cutting Ipswich open, but when Kieran McKenna is bringing Jaden Philogene, Jack Taylor and Chuba Akpom off the bench, there’s clearly a huge gulf in quality compared with what Jakirovic is able to do with so many players out.
City needed to get the first goal, to give themselves something to hold onto, but that didn’t come, and ultimately the goals changed the game, and there was no way back once the two quick-fire ones went in. Credit McKenna for making the changes, but it’s a lot easier when you have such strength in depth.
Jakirovic must now try and find a way to halt the run of defeats in the next few days before the Tigers head to in-form Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.
A good start would be finding a way to keep a clean sheet because that’s another two goals conceded, and that simply cannot continue.
Returning ‘friends’ have last laugh
Of the three returning ex-Tigers, Jacob Greaves was the only one to be named in Kieran McKenna’s starting XI. Greaves was restored to the team as one of six changes from the weekend draw with Wrexham, ahead of their clash at Oxford United on Friday evening.
Both Jaden Philogene and Chuba Akpom were named on the bench, coming on to have a killer impact. Philogene crossing for the opening goal before hitting the post. Akpom took advantage of some awful defending to tap in the second and the killer goal, which effectively killed it off.
Greaves was given a really nice reception before the game, before being jeered after a first-half clash with Joe Gelhardt, which saw the in-form City man pick up a third booking of the season. He was then embroiled in a battle inside the Ipswich box with Kyle Joseph, which left City feeling like they should have had a penalty.
A touch of class
City is a club that does fantastic work with its fans and in the community, as we’ve mentioned numerous times before. If you’ve not seen the latest video posted on social media involving Oli McBurnie, Matt Crooks and John Lundstram, then seek it out, because it will bring a tear ot your eye.
On Tuesday night, City once again showed their class by dedicating the matchday programme cover to former chairman Don Robinson, who did so much to keep this football club afloat.
There was also a minute’s applause before the game for Robinson and ex-player Paddy Greenwood, who sadly passed away at the age of 79.
Back on the grass
A big boost to the Tigers came before kick-off against the Tractor Boys with Oli McBurnie back on the grass as he looks to step up his recovery from a calf problem.
McBurnie has been a huge miss for the Tigers since he departed the action in the second half of the win at Birmingham City last month, and it’s expected that he’ll return to action when Middlesbrough come to the MKM Stadium on Friday week.
All City fans will have everything crossed that the Scotland international comes through training over the next week or so without the issues he experienced before the Norwich trip, and is available, because that will be a major boost.
Off to the Potteries
These three-game weeks don’t get any easier for the Tigers, who now face another huge game this weekend. City head to the Potteries to take on Stoke City, looking for a third successive 3-1 win at the bet365 Stadium.
Stoke, though, are a different beast this season under Mark Robins and have been having an extremely good season. A thumping 3-0 win over Charlton on Tuesday sees them second in the league.
City face a huge game now, especially on the back of a second straight defeat, and they will have one hell of a task to avoid a third straight loss.
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