The Tigers are sitting nicely inside the top six with 13 games left
Sergej Jakirovic’s side have genuine hopes of securing promotion this season(Image: James Marsh/Shutterstock)
Former Hull City promotion-winning manager Steve Bruce admits he’s been impressed with how quietly Sergej Jakirovic has gone about his business.
The Croatian boss masterminded a fifth successive away win on Saturday, thanks to Matt Crooks’ late winner at Portsmouth, which keeps Bruce’s former club firmly entrenched inside the top six.
Just 13 games remain for City to secure their place in the top six at least, and have three games this week against Ipswich Town, Millwall and Wrexham – all teams occupying the remaining play-off spots.
Bruce, who famously led City to the Premier League the last time the club made it onto English football’s top table, believes his old club are in with a shout.
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“Yeah, very quietly. He’s under the radar, and very quietly, he’s taken it on because it was a bit of a shock to us all that (Liam) Rosenior lost his job,” he told OLBG on behalf of Hull Live. “And just shows you how football is. He loses his job, and all of a sudden, he’s the manager of Chelsea. Fair play to him. Yeah, very, very quietly.
“He’s (Jakirovic) done a very decent job. They’re in and around it. They give themselves a chance, which for all Hull supporters for the last five, six, seven years, it’s been a little bit of doom and gloom. So let’s hope they’re on the way forward.”
The week ahead will go a long way to dictating where the Tigers will finish, but Bruce has echoed the thoughts of Jakirovic, who wants his players to embrace the challenge ahead and enjoy it.
“Well, that’s the hard part,” Bruce continued. “It’s always coming now. The hard part. I always think when the daffodils are coming through, it becomes difficult. Trying to cement the place in the playoffs or trying to make automatic promotion is how you handle it.
“Hopefully, your squad is healthy and fit, and basically stay calm with it. Stay calm with it. Enjoy the challenge, what becomes before you, because it’s a great experience, especially if you take a club from the Championship into the Premier League. It’s a fantastic experience and I’ve still got a soft touch for Hull, so keep looking out for them. Let’s hope they keep marching forward.”
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