Three clubs are chasing just one play-off spot in the remaining three games
Sergej Jakirovic has much to ponder ahead of a crucial week(Image: Lee Keuneke/PA Wire)
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic has laid down a challenge to the three teams chasing the final play-off place over the final three games of the season.
Jakirovic’s Tigers remain in the box seat despite a run of just one win in their last six games, culminating in a disappointing 1-1 draw with Birmingham City on Saturday, while Wrexham and Derby County were both coming through home games of their own.
City‘s four-point advantage at the start of the weekend was cut to just two to Phil Parkinson’s Red Dragons following their win over lowly Stoke City, and three to the Rams, who beat Oxford United at Pride Park.
All three teams play two away games this week, with City facing League One-bound Leicester City at the King Power Stadium tonight, and Wrexham going to the Kassam to face Oxford United. John Eustace’s Rams go to Norwich City, who sit eighth but eight points adrift of the Tigers following an incredible run under Philippe Clement.
Then, at the weekend, Jakirovic’s side travel to Charlton Athletic and Derby go to QPR. At noon on Sunday, Wrexham are at the CBS Arena to tackle promoted Coventry City, with the Sky Blues knowing victory would seal the league title.
Jakirovic knows whoever is most successful in their points haul over the course of the next two away days will go a long way to deciding who secures that final play-off berth.
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“There are three games to go, and we’ll try to win the points. All three of us (Wrexham and Derby) have two away games, so we’ll see who will be the most successful,” the Croatian told Hull Live.
“We have a lot of problems with team selection in terms of injuries, but we have to try everything to take three points in each of those games.”
Saturday’s concession after leading through Joe Gelhardt’s first-half strike followed on from passing up a winning position last week at Sheffield United, seeing them see five points escape them in just two games. That takes their overall tally of dropped points from a winning position to 21 this season.
Jakirovic’s side haven’t scored more than one in a game since the defeat of Sheffield Wednesday last month, and he wants his side to be braver, starting at the King Power on Tuesday.
“We’re aware of dropping those 21 points. It’s a lot. We didn’t play our best game, which makes everything very tight. We have to be brave.
“You can look back on last year (before Christmas) when we took a lot of points. It’s this part of the season. We are trying everything to take the points, but we are not as successful as last year, or like January or February, I can say it like this.”
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