Sergej Jakirovic’s Tigers know they are just a few points off clinching a play-off place
Hull City’s players celebrate Oli McBurnie 14th Championship goal of the season at Sheffield United(Image: Mark Sutton/Getty Images)
Hull City’s training ground has been a positive place this season, even after defeats, but that feeling may well have been tested on Monday when the staff and players returned to work to prepare for their penultimate home outing of the regular campaign this weekend.
Saturday’s loss at Sheffield United will have hurt. Having led for over 70 minutes in the Bramall Lane sunshine, John Lundstram’s red card, followed by a contentious penalty and Danny Ings’ winner, ensured the Tigers were beaten on the road for the third time in five trips.
Monday’s discussion with the head of EFL referees, Kevin Friend, may well have been welcome, but would not have softened the blow of that defeat and how it came to pass.
Perhaps the bigger story to come out of the weekend was the social media activity of John Lundstram and owner Acun Ilicali on Saturday evening as emotions ran high.
Lundstram was sent off with City leading 1-0 against his former club with 15 minutes to go, a moment which proved crucial and ultimately damaging.
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Lundstram’s Instagram post undoubtedly came from a good place, though it was worded in a naive way and wasn’t well-received by some. Ilicali responded by suggesting his loan midfielder should focus more on the side paying his wages, rather than the one that no longer does. As always in these scenarios, there are two sides to a tale.
We want players to be human, to show feeling and emotion, and not be robotic. Lundstram should have waited, but you can’t argue that he felt the disappointment on Saturday more than anyone.
In these situations, diplomacy in private is often the best course of action, especially at a time of the season when everybody needs to be pulling in the same direction. City are on the cusp of achieving something special if they get a couple of good results in the final four games.
That will then give them the opportunity to secure something historic and life-changing in the three potential games that could follow thereafter.
City’s dressing room has been its biggest strength this season. Teams that win promotion always do so with a tight-knit group, one that overcomes various levels of adversity throughout a gruelling year. The ones that find a way.
Now, more than ever, City must respond to the manner of that defeat in South Yorkshire and claim a first win in four games when they play Birmingham City on Saturday. Victory, coupled with favourable results elsewhere, could see the Tigers go a long, long way to sealing a top-six place.
Sergej Jakirovic’s men have proven this season just how together they are. When the doubts creep in, they come out fighting and get themselves a result, and they must do so again this weekend.
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