The Tigers claimed another hugely important away win
Sergej Jakirovic watched his side claim a hugely important away win on Saturday(Image: James Marsh/Shutterstock)
Sergej Jakirovic wants his Hull City side to relish their position and try to enjoy their surge towards promotion, after Matt Crooks sealed a crucial 1-0 win at Portsmouth on Saturday.
City laboured throughout a low-key contest that was settled when Crooks, returning from a hamstring injury, slid in after Oli McBurnie had forced an error from goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid.
The win was their second on the spin and fifth in a row away from the MKM Stadium, and ensured they remained firmly in contention at the top end of the table, just three points behind second-placed Middlesbrough who play at Birmingham City on Monday night.
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The Tigers managed just two efforts on goal in the game, with Crooks’ goal coming after Joe Gelhardt should have fired the Tigers in front barely two minutes in.
“Joffo (Gelhardt) must score this situation, I was thinking it is a clear goal,” Jakirovic told Hull Live. “I think we showed through this season that we are a good side. I would like that at times we would play better, but it’s not on me, it’s on the players.
“No matter how many times I speak about playing without pressure, without stress, that you enjoy this moment, there is pressure. Especially now, there are 13 games to go, but OK, we are there. We will push. I would like us to enjoy it more, especially on the ball.”
Key to City’s recovery in the second half was the introduction of John Lundstram and Matt Crooks just after the hour, with both involved in the winning moment.
Jakirovic highlighted the impact of Crooks, who had been sidelined for a month or so with a hamstring injury.
“It was massive, massive one hundred per cent, he said of Crooks’ return. “We know how much he means to us in our team. He’s very important because of the physicality, because of his body condition. He’s capable to win those first and second balls. Also in transition he can take the ball, he can drive the ball a lot of yards.
“We changed this. Of course, when you score the goal, then they will put every offensive player from the bench, and then we also showed the reaction from our bench with Paddy, with Dowell there with Lunny, so it’s tactical.”
The victory also created a little piece of history because for the first time since the Division Three winners of 1965/66 – ten years before Jakirovic was born – a City side had won five in a row away from home. “It’s great. I didn’t know about this record. I was born in 1976, so we’re both very old,” he joked. “This is 59 years old. I’m shocked.”
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