The Tigers sit fifth in the Championship after an impressive opening 15 games of the campaign
Lewie Coyle believes his hometown club have a real chance of success this season, as they look to continue their fine start to the new Championship season.
The Hull City skipper and his teammates return to action at QPR on Saturday and go into that game at Loftus Road sitting fifth in the league and looking to consolidate their play-off place.
City went into the break with a fifth home victory of the season so far, in what was their fifth win in the last seven games. Their impressive form is a far cry from the struggles of last term, which saw the Tigers survive on a dramatic final day in Portsmouth.
Key to that turnaround has been the arrival of Sergej Jakirovic, and a remarkable summer transfer window despite the club working under strict restrictions placed on them by the EFL, with spirits as high as they have been for some time amongst supporters.
“Last season was a struggle, narrowly staying up, but the main thing was we did, which has given us this platform this year to assemble the squad we’ve got, which the football club have done a fantastic job in doing. Especially under the restrictions and everything else going on,” Coyle told Hull Live as he reflected on a quite incredible opening 15 games.
“The football club for me is in such a healthy position. So much optimism around the football club, and we certainly feel that inside the dressing room, and we know that there’s a real chance for us this year.
“He’s (Jakirovic) given the boys the freedom that I feel like we needed, and I think that’s massive. It’s enabled 11 players and whoever’s on the bench to go into a game, whether that be Saturday, Tuesday, and just express yourself.
“You’ve seen that in some of the goals we’ve scored, in the way in which we defend, just all sides of the game, it really gives you that freedom to go on the pitch and do what we all love to do.”
City have looked this season like a group of mates going out and playing football, and enjoying themselves with a smile on their faces. Even during the tough moments, Jakirovic’s players have responded well, something Coyle says is the most certainly the case.
“That’s exactly what it is. A group of lads who are all mates and do loads of things together off the pitch, which I think is so, so important. I think that transfers when you’re on the pitch and you see how much fun we’re having.
“You also see how much the lads will dig in for each other when it gets tough. You look beside you and you’ve got your mates out there on the pitch, and you want to run that extra yard, you want to block that shot, and you want to make a difference.”
While City have had their low moments, at home to Blackburn, losing away at Bristol City, Watford and Derby County, their battling qualities have been apparent throughout, to see out wins against the likes of Sheffield United, Birmingham City, Leicester City and Norwich City.
That level of character and determination, Coyle feels, will be key moving forward into what will be the crucial festive period, which may well determine whether the Tigers can maintain their promotion dreams.
“It’s a fantastic group, a special group I have the pleasure of working with every day,” he continued. “The easy thing in football is to say you’ve got a fantastic group and say you’ve got an unbelievable team spirit, but I think sometimes you need key moments in a season where you can look on and go, no, no, no, the proof’s in the pudding.
“That it was there on show, it’s not just empty words. There’s been a few times this season where we’ve shown that in the flesh, and I think for me that’s really, really pleasing to know that this group’s got that in abundance.”
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