City moved onto 66 points with a tenth home victory of a fine campaign
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic saw his side claim a vital home win on Saturday(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock)
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic praised his players for claiming a 20th league win of the season by beating relegated Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at the MKM Stadium, praising the display of Cody Drameh in particular.
City fell behind in a sticky first half when Jamal Lowe prodded in after a messy spell of defending from his side, but they responded brilliantly with Matt Crooks turning in from Kyle Joseph’s fine pass within seconds of the restart.
Paddy McNair’s teasing free-kick was turned into his own net by Dominic Iorfa on the stroke of half-time to give City the lead, and the points were wrapped up when the excellent Kyle Joseph fired in just before the hour to wrap up a 10th home success.
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“I’m very pleased with the boys,” the Croatian boss told Hull Live. “I think the players put everything on the pitch because it was not an easy game. I expected a tough and demanding match because no one has beaten them easily.
“They are organised, they’re trying to press the ball, press you hard, so in the first 20/25 minutes, it was not easy to find the gaps between their lines.
“They were very compact, and when we conceded this goal, we started to play much faster, many more combinations with short passes, and then we equalised, 1-1 after 94 seconds.
“And then the second goal was very important before the break. At half-time, I just said to the players that without counterattacks in the second half, we must be very organised with offensive marking because they’re very fast in front and also be patient on the ball, play around, till the space comes. I also wanted unselfish running, especially from Kyle (Joseph) in the middle zone when we are in a back three with Lunny there and 2 number eights, with Liam on the left side, isolation 1v1.
“Cody will come there. I think that Cody killed the game. He played a very, very good, fantastic game, and with the third goal, everything was done.”
Given that Southampton and Wrexham both won, the need for City to claim three points was crucial, with the gap to seventh standing at three points with seven games left.
“It’s a great three points for us, especially when I’m looking now at the table, because it’s very, very tight.”
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