The Tigers claimed back-to-back wins after seeing off Derby County in midweek
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic at Fratton Park(Image: James Marsh/Shutterstock)
Sergej Jakirovic admitted he was a relieved man after seeing Matt Crooks snatch a late winner at Portsmouth to seal a 1-0 win on the South Coast.
City produced a below-par performance at Fratton Park and were second best for long periods against a Pompey side who struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Crooks, sidelined with a hamstring injury for the past month, stepped off the bench in the second half to thump in after Oli McBurnie had forced an error between Adrian Segecic and goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid.
The visitors defended resolutely thereafter without ever really looking in too much danger, to move to within three points of the top two ahead of the later kick-offs.
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“We didn’t play our game, our style, because it was very demanding. I don’t know what the reason for that is,” he told Hull Live. “I felt that some parts of the game we lacked some energy, especially in the midfield in possession.
“We were not there. We just kept giving away the ball without any combinations or taking responsibility. That was my main message at half-time.
“We cannot play like this, and we must try something. I think in the second half, especially after the substitutions, we brought a lot of energy on the pitch with Crooksy, with Lunny.
“We started to take the first and second balls, and we scored with one mistake. We knew their goalkeeper likes to take risks because he’s very good with the ball.
“Oli and Crooksy, in trying to press the ball, we were very compact, so that if he makes a mistake, we are there for the second ball, and we used this moment.
“Defensively, we were very organised, and from set-pieces and long throws, we defended these very well.”
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