City claimed a seventh home win of an impressive campaign
Oli McBurnie’s third goal in as many games was enough to move Hull City up to fourth in the Championship as their final home outing of 2025 ended with victory over West Brom.
One of City‘s bogey teams in recent years, Albion should have been two up early on with Karlan Grant, prolific against the Tigers, and Isaac Price missing gilt-edged chances.
McBurnie made Ryan Mason’s men pay deep into added time at the end of a first half that lasted almost an hour, when he converted from the penalty spot after Nat Phillips’ daft handball from Ryan Giles’ corner.
City rarely looked troubled in the second half and saw out the three points with greater comfort than the narrow scoreline suggested it may have been.
Here, Tigers reporter Barry Cooper looks back on a third straight Championship victory for Sergej Jakirovic’s Tigers…
A professional job
Wins like this and Wrexham are the sort of victories that promoted teams get regularly. It’s the sort of win that West Brom were famous for in their promotion-winning heyday, and more recently, Sheffield United.
Yes, they’ve ridden their luck at times, but few teams don’t. They have an ability to get results, even when not at their best, and that’s a hugely important trait to have.
Clean sheets are the backbone of any successful campaign, and that’s now two in their last two home games. After what happened against Boro, you could ask for nothing more. Six points and no goals conceded. Throw in the win at Millwall for good measure, and the response has been flawless.
Fourth at Christmas
Few could have believed this before a ball was kicked, that after 22 games, the Tigers would be fourth in the Championship and there entirely on merit.
The Tigers are only five points off the automatic promotion places, and with a revenge trip to Middlesbrough to come before the year is out, they could even cut that.
The job Sergej Jakkirovic, his staff and players are doing at City is incredible and should be heralded. Yes, nothing has been won yet aside from plaudits and pride, but this has been one heck of a first half of the season.
The starting XI
While Sergej Jakirovic was still unable to call upon the likes of Joe Gelhardt, John Lundstram and Eliot Matazo, there was an air of excitement at 1:45pm when team news broke. It was the first time in his tenure that he was able to name an attacking unit that included the names of Liam Millar, Mo Belloumi and Oli McBurnie altogether.
Admittedly, the first half performance didn’t live up to the pre-match excitement, but the change at the break did make a difference, and the game was won, which is ultimately what matters.
It’s been a tough season so far when it comes to injuries, but gradually, things feel like they’re improving, and while that can change at a moment’s notice, suddenly, the options at Jakirovic’s disposal look much healthier.
Driving home for Christmas
That’s it for Christmas, and indeed for 2025 at the MKM Stadium. It’s certainly been a better end to the calendar year than the first few months with City battling against relegation.
The Tigers don’t play again in front of their own supporters until Stoke City are the visitors to see in the New Year on January 1, with away games at Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough to come before Big Ben chimes to welcome in 2026.
Given how the year started at home, to finish it with seven Championship wins is incredible. They’ve already beaten last season’s tally of five and are just one shy of the eight Liam Rosenior’s side managed in the 2023/24 campaign.
Academy takeover
City are no strangers to bringing in youngsters to shadow some key matchday roles, having done it before with the Tigers Trust, and they did similar on Saturday.
This time, it was with members of the Under-18 squad who got to spend the day working alongside those who carry out their matchday duties, whether that be the kitmen, supporter services, or even working on Tigers Plus commentary alongside the 1904 Club’s very own Burnsy.
Promoting the work the academy does is crucial, as it is with the Trust and exposure like they were given on Saturday can only be a good thing going forward, and for the young players, too, who will hope to have their own careers in football.
Here at Hull Live , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group.
You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service.
Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.