City remain on course to secure a top-six finish this season
Hull City owner Acun Ilicali remains determined to take Hull City to the Premier League(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
It wasn’t to be for Hull City on Friday night when their FA Cup hopes were ended by Premier League Chelsea in front of the television camera at a sold-out MKM Stadium.
City had their moments in the first half before Pedro Neto broke the deadlock just before half-time, and he went on to grab two more to complete his hat-trick, while Estevao got himself on the scoresheet.
Attention for Sergej Jakirovic’s Tigers now turns back to the Championship promotion race and Saturday’s huge home meeting with QPR.
That visit from the West London side sparks a run of seven crucial games in the next 21 days for the Tigers, who can take a giant step towards sealing a play-off place with a good points return.
Ex-England pair Joe Hart and Karen Carney were both at the MKM Stadium as part of TNT’s coverage with host Laura Woods, and they were impressed by what they saw from the Tigers.
Here’s a look at what they’ve been saying…
Joe Hart’s verdict
“You can see that they’re fully focused on it. He’ll (Jakirovic) be delighted with the way they finished the game; they were strong, they were aggressive, they didn’t give up, and it’s a big, big opportunity for them.
“I think Hull did everything they possibly could. They rested a few. They were in such a good league position that they could afford to look forward to the next games coming up, so they’ve got a busy schedule going as well. They got beaten fair and square by a very good Chelsea team, who showed their experience and international quality.
“We know how tight the Championship is, but you’re in an unbelievable position, and I think you have to go for it, and I think the fans respect that.
“They’re definitely onto something, but you know, as we know in this Championship. Things can change really, really quickly, and they want to stay on it, they want to stay focused, and as I say, that’s the good thing about the performance.
“They got beaten 4-0, of course, on paper it looks like it was an easy game. They gave Chelsea a run for their money; their fundamentals and principles were there, and they were pushing hard at the end.
“They look like they’re in a good spot. They’ve got a good owner who absolutely adores the place, you know, and he (Acun Ilicali) wants to back them.
“They’ve been really clever in the market, had their hands tied behind their backs somewhat in terms of bringing people in, but as soon as they are able to free that up (it will help). Full crowd, great stadium. They’re in a good spot, but it’s just not easy, that Championship.”
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What Karen Carney had to say
“Of course, the players like Oli McBurnie wasn’t one hundred per cent fit, and someone like that makes a difference in your push to be in the Premier League, and that’s where you get to play these every single week.
“They gave it a good go, but the focus firmly goes back to the Championship, and the owner said that himself, that’s where we want to be, that’s where these fans want, and that’s where he wants to see them every week.
“Watching them at the weekend (against Bristol City), they just looked a little bit leggy, they’ve had a lot of games and the game accumulation.
“They’ve got seven days before that next game, so a little bit of rest. They’ve rested a few players. Get the momentum back because that’s what you need in the Championship, just that momentum to keep going. They’re in a great position, and they’re very much in the hunt; they’ve just gotta hang in there.
“It’s a dress rehearsal. The only thing I would say is defensively; they’re an attacking team, but in the Championship, they’re conceding far too many, so just tighten up. This was the dress rehearsal. This is the type of team that you want to be playing week in, week out.”
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