City slipped to fourth in the Championship after their weekend defeat at home to Bristol City
Sergej Jakirovic has masterminded a terrific season at Hull City(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Chris Wilder’s comments about how he views the top end of the Championship may have ruffled the feathers of some Hull City fans, but it perhaps won’t have come as a surprise.
Before the weekend games, they were third in the league and four points off leaders Coventry City, who have stuttered badly in recent weeks and seen their extensive lead at the top gradually eroded.
That gap would have been just two points on Saturday, had the Tigers not thrown away the lead given to them by Oli McBurnie against play-off-chasing Bristol City. Ipswich Town also moved level on points with City and leapfrogged them into third on goal difference by winning away at Derby County.
As it is, it now stands at five, but will increase on Monday night if Wilder’s Sheffield United lose at home to second-placed Middlesbrough.
“I do believe it’s two from three, and I think it’s a close one to call, but Coventry will come again. They have made some good signings, got a brilliant manager (Frank Lampard),” Wilder said.
“Middlesbrough have been there and thereabouts, and Ipswich, even though we turned them over a couple of weeks ago, for me, they’re the strongest group with one of the best managers in the country (Kieran McKenna) and that experience.”
City have been unfancied since a ball was kicked, and they’ve been written off in the weeks and months since, despite being one of the league’s most consistent performers throughout the first 31 games.
In all the conversations about potential promotion contenders, almost nobody has mentioned Sergej Jakirovic and his Tigers squad, and that’s fine.
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Going under the radar is not a problem, nor is being written off. City may not make the automatic promotion places, but it won’t be for the want of trying, nor lack of effort. Perhaps that might be a bridge too far; only time will tell.
The sheer fact that we’re even having this conversation is incredible and a testament to the collective work being done at the MKM Stadium. Finishing in the play-offs would be a huge positive and an opportunity. It shouldn’t be deemed a disappointment or failure if the top two become unattainable.
A few weeks ago, Coventry City were miles clear. Things in this league change quickly, and will continue to do so in the remaining games of the season, with every team having something on the line.
Everybody has written City off, and the smart money being placed by Wilder is probably a view shared by the majority, but City have proven the doubters wrong all season, and can carry on doing.
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