Sergej Jakirovic tells 'no fear' Hull City players to be ready when opportunity knocks
Sergej Jakirovic says his Hull City players have no fear in the Championship run-in but he urged them to stay on their toes for the individual opportunities which could present themselves.
With five games to play, Hull have a four-point cushion in the play-off places, and a four-point gap to the top two.
But whereas Ipswich Town and Southampton are expected to go up because they have parachute payments to help, where seventh-placed Wrexham have spent heavily and Middlesbrough had spent almost all season in the top two before dropping out at Easter, Hull are far exceeding pre-season expectations – and enjoying it.
"If I look back at the Coventry game, I think they enjoyed the game, the atmosphere," reflected coach Jakirovic, who saw his side hold the champions-elect to a 0-0.
"Every game it can be better but I think we enjoyed this Monday game. We will continue like this.
"We don't have any fear. At the end of the day, this is just sport.
"Especially in the Championship, there's too many games – you don't have time for celebration, for sadness, just move on and look forward. Take the lessons and that's it.
"I expected Southampton in this position because they had a very difficult start but we are the last team that beat Southampton 16 games ago.
"If you ask before the season where Southampton will be, you will say top three. But we are in fifth position with 68 points and we need to try to win as many points as we can."
Saturday takes Hull to mid-table Sheffield United, who have massively under-performed expectations. Not that Jakirovic is underestimating them.
"They are very good," he stressed. "They have some moments of the play (at a) very high (level) so we must be organised and avoid unforced errors. It's very important because they are very good in positive transition (counter-attacking).
"If you look at expected goals they are in the top six because they create a lot of chances. Some games they didn't have luck there and in the Championship you must have a little bit of luck.
"It's five games to go now. Every point is very important so we have to keep focused and be concentrated in every moment of the game.
"If you go away to Oxford, they're fighting for relegation. They play completely different – pragmatic, long balls, first, second ball with a very strong wind, it's not easy to adapt. We took one point and like I said after the game, I'm happy."
Hull had three players back in training this week, and hope Yu Hirakawa will join them on Monday, but Jakirovic told those on the fringe of the team right now to be ready to start.
"Darko (Gyabi), Akin (Famewo) and Elliot Matazo started to train with us from Wednesday," he said.
"It's good news, but they've been a long time off the pitch. In the last five rounds it's very difficult to put somebody in the team.
"I will give the advantage to healthy players who are in form. They've performed well in the last two games, especially Coventry.
"There is no need (at the moment to put them back into the XI), but you never know who will be the next one injured.
"You have to be ready every game. No matter who plays the last game, how he plays, you have to be ready because there are also tactical issues that we need to sort out. It's always a decision.
"I can say that you can help the team with the ball, without the ball. This is very important.
"Also, now we will play the third game in eight days. You're always searching for freshness, new energy, opportunity to play, hunger, ambition as well. This is what I'm thinking about it.
"For every player it is very important that you know you will get the chance."