The Tigers and Lions played out a 0-0 draw in a cagey first leg
John Egan applauds the fans at the MKM Stadium(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Sergej Jakirovic reserved special praise for Hull City’s supporters after they created a raucous atmosphere in the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against Millwall.
Both sides played out a stalemate in front of a sold-out MKM Stadium crowd on Friday night, with Monday’s second leg at The Den finely poised.
City had openings in the game through Mo Belloumi and Oli McBurnie, while Millwall hit a post and saw a Femi Azeez effort well saved, before a late goal was chalked off for a foul on Charlie Hughes.
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Both teams will do it all again in Bermondsey on Monday night, in what will be another sell-out. After calling on the fans to replicate the memorable atmosphere against Norwich City last Saturday, the Croatian maestro was pleased with how well the home crowd backed their side.
“It was a great atmosphere,” he told Hull Live. “It was very loud and everything with the supporters. Yes, it was very, very special. Very special, these last two games, amazing, and thanks to the fans.”
The Tigers boss also explained his decision to name an unchanged team from the side that beat the Canaries in the final outing of the regular season.
“I was thinking that we will have more on the flanks. More isolation one vs one, but especially in the first half, we were kicking the ball around without any reason, so we have to be better on the ball, better in possession, take more risks to be happy with the ball. This is something that we need to improve for the second leg.”
The Tigers boss is determined to do everything in his power to help the Tigers reach a third Championship play-off final when they head to The Den. “It’s 11 vs 11, and on Monday night, we will try everything to reach the final,” he added.
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