City’s five-game winning run on the road was ended at Portman Road
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic was left disappointed with the result at Portman Road(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
Sergej Jakirovic remains happy with the position Hull City find themselves in despite losing 1-0 at promotion rivals Ipswich Town on Tuesday night.
Azor Matusiwa’s stunning piledriver in the closing stages ended City’s eight-game unbeaten run away from home, which had seen them win the last five on the road.
City were defensively strong throughout, but succumbed to defeat when the midfielder rattled in his first goal for the Tractor Boys, who moved three points clear of the Tigers inside the top six.
“I think that Ipswich deserved one goal, but they didn’t create a big chance until this goal,” Jakirovic told Hull Live. “After this goal, Ivor (Pandur) saved these two in one attack. Maybe they had this chance when we made a mistake in the right corner with Charlie (Hughes) and Gelhardt. Defensively, we were good.
“This is the only way you can play against Ipswich because they are very good on the ball. A lot of possession, a lot of good players inside, and unfortunately, we lost the game.
“When we conceded a goal, after we showed that we can play, we can press them, we can push them, and unfortunately, we didn’t score.”
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While the visitors didn’t have a shot on target in the game, they had numerous opportunities, especially on the counterattack, that they didn’t take advantage of.
Twice in the first half, Lewis Koumas could have played in Liam Millar, who had acres of space, something Jakirovic felt let his side down.
“We had some situations there, and also in the first half, some transitions, it’s a lack of better decisions that you can look at the other side, switch to the other side, and Liam (Millar) will be alone two times against the goalkeeper. Maybe we can play better in those moments.
“It’s frustrating sometimes, but this is also quality. I cannot go on the pitch and take the ball past a player or have a shot towards the goal.
“I think our idea was good from the middle block to the low block with nine or 10 players with three very fast players in front, and we will have our moments, and we had them, but we didn’t use them.
“This is football, OK, you can make a mistake and unfortunately. We were good defensively and just lacked these decisions in the last third.
“Ipswich are trying to play everything very fast, very quick, build up, throw-ins. They’re trying to catch you when you are not organised there. This is also their quality.”
The Tigers have a seven-point cushion to the chasing pack outside the play-offs with 11 games to go, ahead of games against Millwall on Saturday and Wrexham next Tuesday night, and the Croatian’s message is clear: “I’m happy because we are there with 60 points, so we will fight till the end.”
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