Festive period could herald year of the Tiger

PIVOTAL TIME FOR JAKIROVIC'S CITY

- By BARRY COOPER

nd so it begins. The tree is up, the lights are on, and the unmistakable tones of Shane MacGowan are heard in every supermarket, shop and on every Christmas playlist.

December is open for business, and the Christmas period is in full swing. For Hull City, the next month is one to embrace, to look forward to and be excited about.

‘That's because, over the course of the previous 18 games, Sergej Jakirovic, his staff and players have masterminded a superb start which sees them ninth in the league, just a point outside the top six and with a wonderful platform from which to build.

Not without its setbacks, frustrations and disappointments, the Tigers have laid the ghosts of Christmas past well and truly to bed and go into a frantic eight-game period looking up, rather than down.