City continue to surprise many their impressive form
Hull City’s Regan Slater celebrates scoring against Swansea City(Image: Lee Keuneke/PA Wire)
Hull City’s remarkable season continues to reach new heights, after Saturday’s gritty 2-1 win over Swansea City made it three wins in the space of a week.
While many outside of East Yorkshire will be surprised by the Tigers’ form, for those who have watched Sergej Jakirovic’s men all season, seeing them sitting fourth, level on points with Ipswich Town in third, won’t come as much of a surprise.
City have been consistent. Cast an eye over any form guide and they’ll be there. Scan the last four, eight, 10, 15 or 20 games and you’ll see Jakirovic’s men in the top four.
Since a home humbling by Middlesbrough on December 5 when they found themselves 4-0 down at half-time, the Tigers have won seven, drawn one and lost one. That’s a run that includes impressive away wins at Boro, Southampton and Preston North End. Their only blemish was a 1-0 home loss to Stoke City on New Year’s Day, and on that day, they hit the woodwork twice and were perhaps unlucky to come away with nothing. No team has won more than the eight they have in the past 11 games.
This is no fluke. Some will point to the ‘underlying stats’, which has become a buzzword in recent times. City may be near the bottom of the ‘XG’ table, but who cares? Expected goals (XG) is the latest nonsensical stat that dominates conversation and proves very little.
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City are a team who are ruthless and clinical, especially on the counterattack, as we saw with the opener at Deepdale on Tuesday night. Jakirovic’s men create chances and they score goals. For much of the season, only leaders Coventry City had scored more. Ipswich Town have since risen above them, but by only one.
They are efficient in their work, and they have been all season, and that’s why they are dangerous. They’re happy to be without the ball for periods in the game, but when they get it, they’re a real threat.
City can play all different types of games. At St Mary’s last Saturday, Southampton had 70 per cent of the ball, as they did in the game at the MKM Stadium in September. In both games, City led 3-0 and 2-0 in both games before late consolations from the Saints meant the scores were 3-1 and 2-1 to the Tigers.
At Deepdale, City dominated from start to finish and played some lovely football on a ploughed field. In the win over Swansea, Jakirovic’s side were pinned back for much of the second period and eventually conceded. After the manager changed formation and went to a back five, they kept the Swans at arm’s length and rarely looked in much danger.
That came at the end of a long, long week, and the Tigers still found the energy to see the game out relatively comfortably. That secured three wins in a week for the first time this season, and cemented their place in the top six.
City are getting stronger. Players are coming back from injury, although there’s still a staggeringly long list of key absentees. New players are coming in, despite the transfer restrictions.
Their lofty position after 28 games is no fluke. They’ve won 15 games, and before the weekend’s round of fixtures, had the best away record in the league. City are there on merit, and don’t let anyone tell you any different.
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