The Tigers moved back up to fourth in the Championship with an eighth home win of the campaign.
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
09:00, 25 Jan 2026
Oli McBurnie celebrates his 11th Hull City goal of the season.(Image: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images)
Hull City gritted out a battling 2-1 win over Swansea City to cap a fantastic week with a third win in three games, and back up away successes at Southampton and Preston North End.
A first-half Oli McBurnie penalty and a screamer from Regan Slater, was enough to overcome a Swansea side who threatened a comeback in a much-improved second half when Liam Cullen glanced in on the hour.
Sergej Jakirovic’s decision to switch to a back five and close the game down proved crucial, and helped the Tigers see out their 15th win of the Championship campaign, to move to within five points of the top two with a game in hand.
Here, City reporter Barry Cooper looks back on a jubilant week for the Tigers;
The best week yet
Three games, three wins and some new signings. As weeks go, that has been about as good as it could have gone for City. The second half may have been a tough watch, but good sides find a way to win and that’s what they did. And during it, Regan Slater’s belting strike was their first from outside the box this season.
As Sergej Jakirovic said after the game, if you’d have suggested that before 3pm in Southampton, he’d have said you were crazy. Well, his team have done just that.
It doesn’t always need to be pretty to be effective. At Deepdale, City were fluid and dominant. At the end of a long week, the Tigers struggled at times in the second period. However, they found a way and that’s all that matters.
Strength off the bench
City’s list of substitutes has looked decidedly weaker than their manager would have liked at times, but a quick glance before kick-off showed it arguably as strong as it had been all season.
New arrivals Dowell, Yu Hirakawa plus John Lundstram were amongst those lying in reserve for Jakirovic when he needed to turn to them. Yu, in particular, caught the eye off the bench in the second period.
At Blackburn Rovers next weekend, it’ll be even stronger with the expected arrivals of Toby Collyer and Paddy McNair adding to his options, plus the expected return of Ryan Giles to full fitness.
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Pitch watch
Generally speaking, the MKM playing surface was in fine condition a couple of weeks on from its last game, that never-ending cup tie against Rovers that went the distance.
Aside from a strip in front of the West Stand, it looked in good shape. Understandably, with five more City games coming up in the next couple of weeks, plus the start of Hull FC’s season and the captain’s run for the World Series game, there’s concern about what it will look like next month, probably after the Chelsea clash on February 13.
Here’s hoping the groundstaff are blessed with some better weather that will aid its recovery during what’s going to be a busy period.
A much-needed breather
After what’s been a busy run in the past week with trips to Southampton and Preston, the Tigers now have some valuable time to recover before going to Ewood Park, and also revel in the majesty of the nine-point week.
That period will allow Jakirovic to bed in Hirakawa and Dowell – as well as bringing in McNair and Collyer ahead of that trip back to Lancashire.
Any rest the squad can get, coupled with time on the training pitch, is crucial at this stage of the season to refresh body and mind, ahead of what will be a gruelling period running into March’s international break.
The final week of the window…
Much of City’s transfer business has been done – with the arrivals of Yu and Dowell – plus the imminent additions of McNair and Collyer, but there could still be a surprise or two in the final seven days.
McNair was at the MKM Stadium to see his new side in action and he’d have been impressed with the various parts to their game he witnessed.
City might be working under strict controls from the EFL, but that hasn’t stopped them from making some smart additions so far and there’s no reason to suggest that won’t be the case again. Also worth keeping an eye on will be players moving on. Anyone who departs before next Tuesday’s 7pm shut-off would allow them to add to their squad.
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