Hull City

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside after his side's 2-1 defeat at Charlton Athletic:

"We didn't score more goals than Charlton, it's very simple. First half we did not play good, I was not satisfied with our performance because we didn't do anything really, very, very slow.

"We equalised through Egan, which is perfect for us and how we played. And in the second half I think we played much better, with Mo Belloumi's substitution, with some changes to the side on the pitch, and we had a few very good opportunities to score the second goal.

"We have to score a goal at this moment. Unfortunately we didn't and we conceded the second goal, which is unacceptable.

"That guy take [sic] the ball, through the pitch without any contact from three of our players. In this league, you must make a tactical foul.

"We tried everything, I don't know how many times we entered their box."

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic wants Daniel Craig to play him - if the film of the Championship play-off run-in is ever made.

The Tigers go into the final two matches of the regular season level on points with sixth-placed Wrexham but with a two-goal deficit to make up.

Jakirovic says the race to make the Premier League is sufficiently dramatic and has enough plot twists to make the big screen.

After being asked to sift through potential actors who might depict him should that scenario come to pass - Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, yes, Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, no - he was happy to settle on Craig for the role.

"I like Daniel Craig. He is my favourite James Bond. Him and Piers Brosnan. I have watched every James Bond movie so I know everything," he revealed to BBC Radio Humberside.

After Hull City fell out of the Championship play-off places for the first time since December following the 2-2 draw at Leicester, we asked what Tigers fans made of their promotion chances with just two games remaining.

Here are some of your responses:

Will: Nerves seem the base of our problems. We have completely lost our identity, resorting to long balls and relying on individual brilliance. This, plus our squad being all over the place with injuries doesn't help. Going back to basics and what worked at the start would help us.

Gary: The Tigers have blown it, some great results against the top teams in the division but dropping 30 points against the bottom-half teams has cost them dear.

Dan: It's been a great season regardless if we get play-offs or not. One of the favourites to go down and with a transfer ban were we couldn't spend money to sign players, never expected to get anywhere near play-offs, never mind fighting to be in them. Sergej and the players have done an amazing job!

Thomas: We will either batter Charlton and Norwich or it'll be typical City and lose out on goal difference.

Neil: Hull have a better run-in than Wrexham and we will win through to the play-offs. Hull doesn't like it easy and perform best when backs to the wall. Supporting from Perth, Western Australia.

Michael: True to form or lack of it, the toothless Tigers will not be in the play-offs.

Owen: The Tigers are still in the race; Wrexham have two difficult opponents. I have faith that we can overcome Charlton and Norwich and surpass Wrexham's goal difference.

Robert: I think Hull City will be placed sixth in the Championship, however they will not get to the play-off final. A lot of Hull City fans would have been happy if they finished half way up the Championship. Just hope we can keep the manager.

Charlton Athletic seek safety as they host Hull City on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

The Addicks are just one point away from saving themselves from relegation and condemning Oxford United to League One.

But Hull City, only outside the final play-off spot on goal difference, can leapfrog rivals Wrexham into sixth place, with the Red Dragons set to play title winners Coventry City on Sunday.

• Charlton are unbeaten in their last six home league meetings with Hull City (D3 L3) since a 1-2 reverse in November 1985.

• Hull have won three of their last four away league games against London clubs (L1), as many as their previous 16 in the capital beforehand (W3 D7 L6).

• Charlton have won their final home league game in seven of the last nine seasons (D2) since a 0-3 defeat to Burnley in 2015-16.

• Hull haven't won their final away league game in any of the last 18 seasons (D6 L12) since a 1-0 victory at Cardiff in 2006-07.

• Hull have earned 35 away points in the Championship this season; a win here will make this the most points they have ever earned on the road in a second tier campaign (38, assuming 3 pts/win all-time), a record they set in 2023-24 (37).

How are you feeling Tigers fans?

For the first time since early December you are on the outside looking in at the play-off places.

The draw at Leicester was a fifth game without a win and, combined with Wrexham's win at Oxford on Tuesday night, has Hull City in seventh, behind the Red Dragons by virtue of their two-goal advantage in goal difference.

Sergej Jakirovic's men can return to the top-six with a point at Charlton on Saturday (12:30 BST) with Wrexham not in action until Sunday (12:00 BST) when they visit champions Coventry, but three points feels like a must, with Derby not out of the equation in eighth place, albeit four points back.

Will it go down to the final day when Hull host Norwich and Wrexham welcome Middlesbrough to the Stok Cae Ras? Has this winless run already blown your chances?

Click here to have your say.

Hull City assistant head coach Dean Holden has compared his side's 2-2 draw against Leicester City to a basketball match after conceding their lead in the second half.

Tigers winger Liam Millar opened the scoring in the 18th minute but conceded after Jordan James converted from the spot.

"Disappointing thing for us is that we got ourselves into a leading position again. Four games out of five since the break and we've not been able to see it through," Holden told the BBC.

"The message at half-time was to try and get on the front foot. We knew they were going to come us and take even more risk.

"We concede the penalty, I've genuinely not seen it back so I can't really comment, but I believe it's a disappointing one.

"We were giving everything as were they. I'm sure it was an entertaining game because it was end-to-end, it was like a game of basketball at times but that became dangerous for us because they've got such good players in those one-on-one duels.

"Ultimately we've got to take the point as disappointing as it is and move forwards as quick as we can."

Listen to more from Holden on BBC Sounds

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Leicester City must win to stand any chance of avoiding relegation to League One when they host play-off chasing Hull City on Tuesday night (kick-off 19:45 BST).

The Foxes are eight points adrift of safety with three games remaining after a run of just one win in their past 17 matches (D7 L9).

Even victory will not be enough for Gary Rowett's side to stay up if Charlton Athletic avoid defeat and both West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers win in midweek.

The Tigers are sixth, two points ahead of seventh-placed Wrexham, and need a win to guarantee they keep their play-off hopes in their own hands, though Sergej Jakirovic's side have gone four games without victory (D3 L1).

• Leicester have lost just one of their past six home league games against Hull (W3 D2), though it was the last time they hosted them in September 2023 (0-1).

• Hull are looking to complete the league double over Leicester for the first time since 2007-08, when the Tigers were promoted to the top-flight for the first time.

• Only Sheffield Wednesday have collected fewer points at home in the Championship in 2026 than Leicester City (7 – W2 D1 L6); indeed, their six defeats in their past eight are as many as in their previous 28 home matches in the second tier (W17 D5).

• Hull have lost three of their past five away league games (W1 D1), as many as in their previous 14 matches on their travels (W9 D2).

• Hull's Oliver McBurnie has four goal involvements across his previous eight away league starts (2 goals, 2 assists), netting most recently at former side Sheffield United.

Hull City's stuttering form continued last time out when they were beaten 2-1 at Sheffield United.

Despite no wins in their past three league games, the Tigers remain in the Championship play-off places in sixth, four points above seventh-placed Wrexham, but will want to further avoid looking over their shoulder in the home straight.

Birmingham go into this game on the back of a 2-0 win over Wrexham, a result that did their hosts on Saturday a huge favour.

That victory ended Blues' winless run of four games, avoiding a fourth straight defeat in the process.

• Hull have lost just one of their past 11 league games against Birmingham (W6 D4), going down 2-0 at home in October 2022.

• After seven consecutive away league defeats against Hull between 2011 and 2021, Birmingham are now unbeaten in their past two visits (W1 D1).

• Hull are winless in their past three Championship games (D2 L1) – if they fail to win here, it will be their longest run without a league victory under Sergej Jakirovic (4).

• Birmingham have won just 32% of their points in the Championship this season in away matches (18/56); the lowest percentage of any team in 2025-26.

• Oliver McBurnie has scored 14 goals in the Championship this season; the most by a Hull player in a second-tier campaign since Jarrod Bowen in 2019-20 (16).

Naz Premji
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

Hull City's defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday may have caused a few Tigers fans to worry about their play-off push.

A game they dominated for large parts went away from them after a red card for John Lundstrum late on. They went on to lose 2-1 and the chasing pack had a chance to take advantage.

Wrexham's defeat at Birmingham on Sunday, however, means Sergej Jakirovic's side are still sixth and four points clear of the Red Dragons, with Derby a further point back, and all three teams having played 42 games.

With just four games to go it would be quite a turnaround if one of the chasers could overhaul the Tigers, and they could further tighten their grip on a play-off spot with a win at home to Birmingham on Saturday (15:00 BST), then head to struggling Leicester three days later.

Maximum points in those two games against Midlands opposition could pretty much seal the Tigers' top-six spot.

One thing is for sure, this play-off race is still very open, but Hull City have it in their hands and at this stage of the season that is all you can ask for - it's a case of catch us if you can, Wrexham and Derby.

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic spoke to BBC Radio Humberside after their defeat at Sheffield United.

"I think we played a good game, we were the better team and we had the better chances," he said.

"I can not speak much (about the refereeing) because they will punish me.

"The referee was in the way of Lunny and he couldn't move and was late on the ball and for me, the penalty was for nothing.

"There is also maybe an offside (on their winning goal) and this is why we need VAR in this league. It is a crucial moment for our team.

"If you are a neutral it was an entertaining game. We deserved to take the points but unfortunately football is like this. This isn't a fair result."

Image source, Getty Images

The EFL has announced the fixtures for the 2026-27 season will be published at midday on Thursday, 25 June.

The first-round draws for the Carabao Cup and the Vertu Trophy will be made on the same day.

The new season will kick off on the weekend of August 7-9 with the first round of the Carabao Cup, and the opening fixtures in the Championship, League One and League Two will follow a week later on 14-16 August.

The first round of the Vertu Trophy will be played in the week commencing 21 September.

Image source, Getty Images

A nomination for the Championship's manager of the season award is an honour for the whole club, says Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic.

The former Bosnia and Herzegovina international is up for the award alongside Frank Lampard of Coventry City, Millwall's Alex Neil and Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg.

"It's a big honour for me being in this company and in such a competitive environment it's already a big achievement for me," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I would like to thank my club, my staff, family and especially the players because without them it's not possible and it shows we are doing a very good job this season."

The Tigers are currently in fifth place in the Championship table having started the season with a background of transfer embargoes.

"In my opinion a lot of head coaches and managers are doing a great job because it's not easy, there are a lot of games, a lot of injuries and you are doing everything to find a way to get results and no matter which position in the table you are, you are fighting for something so there is no time to relax," added Jakirovic.

"This is a big achievement for the club. I am the head coach but we are doing a great job, especially in our circumstances all season and I would like this feeling to continue."

Hull are away at Sheffield United in the Championship on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Listen to Hull City content and interviews on BBC Sounds.

Hull City will aim to cement their place in the paly-off spots as they visit Sheffield United on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Tigers are currently two points ahead of Southampton in sixth and only four in front of seventh-placed Wrexham after two successive draws.

The Blades have failed to win any of their games in March and are still searching for a victory in April.

• Sheffield United have lost their last two league games against Hull, as many as in their previous 24 against the Tigers (W15 D7).

• Hull are looking to complete the league double over Sheffield United for just the second time, previously doing so in 1952-53.

• Since Boxing Day, only Sheffield Wednesday (1) have kept fewer Championship clean sheets than Sheffield United (2 in 19 games); they are the only side without a home clean sheet in that time.

• Hull have drawn their last two league games, having only drawn two out of 27 beforehand (W15 D10). They last drew three in a row back in November 2024.

• Sheffield United's Gustavo Hamer has assisted the most goals in the Championship this season (11) – the last Blades player with more in a league campaign was John Fleck in League One in 2016-17 (16). Indeed, 10 of Hamer's 11 assists have been at Bramall Lane, six more than any other player has at one venue this season (Ryan Giles at the MKM Stadium for Hull, 6).

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic spoke to BBC Radio Humberside following Monday's goalless draw with Coventry City.

"I saw a good game as we were faced with the best team in the league," he said.

"They are in first place and I'm happy for the lads because they played very well since the first minute - we started very strong.

"I can say we took control and won possession, especially we had very good combinations and tried to press them to create some chances.

"Also we didn't allow too much, which is great because we are struggling all season with clean sheets and I'm happy for the lads they put everything into it today.

"Unfortunately we didn't win the game, but we have to continue like this.

"It's always a big battle. Both teams had very good organisation and tactical discipline, so it's not easy because they are a great team. I saw that we can compete with them, which is a great message to us."