Both sides will head into the second leg with all to play for in Bermondsey
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic(Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire)
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic got the game he was expecting, after seeing his side play out a keenly-contested 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final against Millwall.
City had the best chance of the game early on when Mo Belloumi danced his way into the box before hitting the outside of the post, while Millwall saw an effort flick the outside of Ivor Pandur’s post late on.
The Lions thought they’d grabbed a winner to take back to The Den for Monday’s second leg, but referee Gavin Ward chalked off Tristan Crama’s effort in the closing stages.
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“It was an expected game, very tough, a fight for every ball, every challenge, every duel on the ground, in the air,” Jakirovic told Hull Live.
“Maybe we had the best chance in the game through Mo Belloumi when he hit the post, and then after, of course, they are very dangerous from set pieces, long throw-ins. I think that we handled this, and maybe we were in some situations, very hectic with the ball around the box in the box. You can take an extra touch, you can make better decisions.
“In the second half, I think that we started very well, that we pressed them, pushed them there until 70 minutes, but unfortunately, we didn’t score. After 70 minutes, they had control, especially in possession, but they didn’t create anything dangerous for us. In the end, it’s a fair result, like I said on Thursday, nothing will be decided tonight.”
The contentious moment in the game came late on when Tristan Crama scored, but referee Gavin Ward had already blown for a foul against the Millwall man and disallowed the goal.
Jakirovic felt the decision was correct, but was disappointed at the lack of protection afforded to Oli McBurnie in particular, though he was pleased with how his side defended the Lions’ long throws into the City box.
“All season they’re playing like this, especially this with the long throw-ins, and Captain (Jake) Cooper is a very, very tall guy and massive,” the Croatian continued. “He’s doing a lot of fouls, but this is the Championship. If we are in Europe, this is 150 fouls in attack. Very simple.
“It’s a clear foul in the tackle, I saw that immediately, because if you take the player with two hands and spin the player around, this is a foul.
“The referee didn’t whistle, I think 10 fouls on McBurnie and even on Mo (Belloumi) in the second half. This is a clear foul because Mo Belloumi is passing you, driving the ball, and you’re pulling him from behind. This is even a yellow card in football, but I’m used to it.”
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