City’s five-game unbeaten run was ended on Saturday at the MKM Stadium
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
18:36, 07 Feb 2026
Sergej Jakirovic watches on during the defeat to Bristol City(Image: Nigel French/PA Wire/PA Images)
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic bemoaned the manner of the cheap goals his side conceded in their 3-2 defeat at home to Bristol City.
Despite leading 1-0 through Oli McBurnie’s terrific goal in the first half, Rob Atkinson and Ross McCrorie turned the game on its head before half-time.
Any hopes of a comeback were dashed early in the second half when Emi Riis finished off a swift counter to make it 3-1, and though Kieran Dowell slammed in before the end to give the Tigers hope amid 10 minutes of added time because of a squirrel running riot which caused a lengthy delay, his side couldn’t find a way back.
Jakirovic also felt disappointed by the performance of referee Oliver Langford, who turned down a strong penalty claim for a shove on Oli McBurnie in the second period.
“We entered the game well, we controlled everything, but then we started to lose the ball so easily, maybe challenges and in the duels, we were too soft,” he told Hull Live.
“They had two nice chances there through Emil Riis, and they didn’t punish us in those moments. Then we took a lead 1-0, nice action, great play through Reegs (Slater) and Oli.
“Oli scored, then I think that we brought them into the game with our mistakes because our numbers are in the box, we can control that better, one hundred per cent.
“I can say two cheap goals, but for Bristol, it’s very good goals. In the dressing room at half-time, we still believed that we could equalise.
“After our promising attack, when Lunny received the ball in the pocket, he turned around and tried to shoot, but they blocked, and then we knew that they were very fast in transition. We conceded the third. It was not easy. Then we tried with substitutions (to change the game). We scored to make it 3-2.
“Maybe in this possession we should be much braver on the ball, that we play faster passes, we always took one or two extra touches, and then they’re ready for everything because they feel comfortable in the defensive zone.
“We couldn’t find the extra man in the pockets, or maybe with good promising crossing that we are dangerous.
“Maybe it was one situation with Oli McBurnie when somebody pushed him from the back in the box for a penalty, but I must see it one more time. In the end, we can give congratulations to Bristol City for three points.”
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Referee Langford came in for some criticism from the home supporters and angered the Tigers’ bench at some of his decisions, especially the penalty shout. “I saw his hands that pushed him. I think two or three minutes earlier, he whistled for an Oli McBurnie foul in attack, when Liam Millar made a cross inside.
“You also have a situation on (Lewis) Koumas, it’s a clear foul or tackle from behind on Joffo (Gelhardt), and then he didn’t whistle for that. He’s going to attack, and then we got the yellow card. He’s there nervously. He must make better decisions in those moments.”
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