City scored three times at home for the first time since early January to claim home victory
Barry is the Hull City correspondent, and previously covered Nottingham Forest for the Nottingham Post/Nottinghamshire Live. Barry has reported on Hull City’s League One title success and Championship campaigns
Oli McBurnie’s terrific winner capped a memorable first home game in charge for Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic. McBurnie struck three minutes into second-half stoppage time to earn all three points for the Tigers against a plucky, determined and resolute Oxford United side, who had twice fought back.
Joe Gelhardt’s strike inside a minute had lifted the roof off the MKM Stadium, before Will Lankshear made it 1-1. Matt Crooks fired City back in front in a chaotic 20 minutes, only for Cameron Brannagan to volley the U’s level.
The stage was set, however, for summer signing McBurnie on his home debut to fire in the winner from Ryan Giles’ neat cutback to send 20,000 home fans home happy.
Here, Hull Live looks back at a fine start to the campaign for the Tigers…
What a moment
We always say, football’s about making memories, and that was another. We all know how difficult watching City play at the MKM Stadium has been in recent seasons, but McBurnie’s goal was superb and was a fitting way to end a performance that deserved three points.
For those inside the MKM Stadium it was fantastic to witness a 93rd minute winner and create a memory that lives with them for a while having been so used to seeing opposition teams snatch late winners. It was refreshing to see the boot firmly on the other foot.
Winning this game was so important to set the tone for the games to come. While a point wouldn’t have been a disaster, it certainly would have felt like two dropped.
Jakirovic is off and running in his first home game. There’s no story of it dragging on for week after week like last season, and he’ll be pleased with the way in which his side kept going and scoring another really well-worked goal.
Positive changes
Even with the game finely poised, some might have expected McBurnie to come off in what was his first home start but instead, the gaffer sent on Kyle Joseph, stuck with McBurnie and swapped Abu kamara and David Akintola to keep the pitch as wide as possible, and it worked a treat.
City kept coming, wave after wave and the goal was so well worked. Kamara to Giles on the overlap and then his well-placed pass to the striker, who had peeled off his man.
McBurnie then showed all his experience in that moment, to compose himself and pick out the bottom corner. So many other strikers would have rushed it and dragged wide, but his effort nestled into the bottom corner.
Things to work on
In general, City looked fairly solid. Oxford rarely cut them open, but the manner of the goals will be a real concern to Jakirovic.
Throughout the afternoon, Will Vaulks’ long throws were a constant menace, and while City often got first contact, they were collectively and individually slow to react to the second and were punished.
What would be a concern is that Jakirovic’s players were briefed, and prepared for that particular threat and the players didn’t react to it, so they’ll need to sharpen up against better teams as the season wears on.
Has the injury curse struck again?
Joel Ndala came off and looked in some discomfort with his shoulder, while Matt Crooks left the MKM Stadium with his foot in a protective boot owing to an ankle problem.
The hope is that both will be OK but given the club’s recent injury record, which feels like something of a curse, there will be understandable nervousness over the next few days as we await the outcome of respective scans.
Losing Ndala and Crooks with Semi Ajayi already sidelined for at least the next month and skipper Lewie Coyle not yet fit, it would feel like a case of here we go again.
Now to back it up
The Tigers will welcome Blackburn Rovers to the MKM Stadium on Saturday lunchtime for their final outing before the international break – yes, it’s really arrived that quickly.
Rovers haven’t enjoyed a great summer and have lost their two opening games, so City will have a big opportunity to make it two from two and keep this momentum building.
Winning successive home games would be the perfect start to the season, especially on the back of that very encouraging opening day draw at Coventry City.
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