Biggest task is managing expectations

JAKIROVIC MUST FIND A BALANCE FOR CITY

- By BARRY COOPER

Oli McBurnie gave the Tigers the lead against Bristol City

(GREIG COWIE/ SHUTTERSTOCK)

As Sergej Jakirovic bounced into his chair deep in the bowels of the MKM Stadium on Saturday night, it was not immediately obvious that Hull City had suffered their first defeat in six games.

The Croatian was calm, assured and measured, giving a typically honest assessment of the game, and even finding time to have a laugh and a joke with the assembled media, as he always does.

Beaten 3-2 by Bristol City, the Tigers slumped to a disappointing home defeat that saw them miss the chance to take advantage of leaders Coventry dropping points at home to Oxford United, and the chasing playoff pack also failing to make the most of their opportunities.

Jakirovic was exactly the same as he was the week before, when the Tigers were 1-0 winners at Blackburn, or a couple of Tuesdays earlier after a resounding 3-0 success in Preston.

That level of calmness is vitally important, and will become more crucial as time goes on and the end of the season arrives on the distant horizon.