The Tigers boss remains bullish about his side’s play-off hopes
Hull City’s players must pick themselves up after Tuesday’s disappointment (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Sergej Jakirovic says his Hull City side will ‘never surrender’ as the Tigers look to reignite their stuttering season in what they hope will not be their final away game of the season this weekend.
City head to struggling Charlton Athletic looking for a first win in six games, and first since beating Sheffield Wednesday before the international break last month.
That run of five games without a win has included four draws and one defeat, form which has seen them drop out of the play-offs for the first time in four months.
Wrexham have leapfrogged City with only two games left, but victory at The Valley would see them move three points clear of Phil Parkinson’s side, who don’t play until Sunday lunchtime when they go to champions Coventry City.
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Belief remains high in the Tigers’ dressing room, according to Jakirovic, who lauded his charges for their efforts at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday night, despite being forced to settle for a 2-2 draw.
“I was very proud of my players the other night,” the Croatian told Hull Live. “I was very proud because they gave everything. Our GPS data from the other night was in the top three games all season, so what can you say? We can talk about decisions in the last third, but sometimes it’s not easy because your pulse is over 200. It’s not easy to make good decisions, but they’ve given everything all season, and this is what I want to say, no matter what happens in the end.
“In the end, we want to reach the play-offs. We want to be there because we are mostly there. I’m very proud of my team because we showed, even in our circumstances, what problems we’ve had, we showed that we can build a good team with a very good group of players, character, behaviour, hardworking, and that you can reach a good result. We will see in the end, 180 minutes. I’m buzzing for the last two rounds.
“The good spirit is good. You know that we will never surrender. All this season has been like this, and we show that we can play good football with performances.”
Jakirovic also explained why he was sent off by referee Thomas Kirk at the King Power Stadium, suggesting the fourth official believed he was clapping the officials sarcastically, when in fact, he says he was trying to encourage his side after conceding the second.
The Tigers boss has not yet heard from the FA regarding a potential touchline ban, so as it stands, will be in the Valley dugout pending proceedings being revealed ahead of next Saturday’s finale.
It was because of clapping,” he explained. “After the second goal, I was clapping to my players to go forward, to go on, and let’s go again.
“I asked the fourth official why I am sent off? He said to me, ‘because of clapping’. I said, ‘How do you know who I am, clapping?’ Now everything is done, we don’t need to speak more about the officials. I have spoken about it almost the entire season. I was very clear in some situations, at the end of the day, I’m sent off. I cannot change anything, and the board is going forward again.
“I think I will not be (in the dugout) in the last round (against Norwich City), which is normal. Until now, I’m on the bench (at Charlton). We didn’t receive any notice (from the FA).”
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