Hull City lost 2-0 to Ipswich Town thanks to two quick-fire goals
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
22:49, 25 Nov 2025
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic (Image: SmartFrame/Pro Sports Images)
Sergej Jakirovic admitted the manner of the goals conceded against Ipswich Town was painful for him to watch, as his Hull City side succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.
City had been more than a match for the Tractor Boys until a host of changes made by Kieran McKenna saw ex-Tiger Jaden Philogene step off the bench to fire in a cross for Marcelino Nunez to head in the opener after 69 minutes.
It was 2-0 minutes later when another former City man Chuba Akpom tapped in unmarked after another defensive howler, to kill the game off and leave City facing a second consecutive defeat for the first time since August.
“I have a lot of feelings,” Jakirovic told Hull Live. “I can split this game into two parts. The first 70 minutes were very good; we played very well with a very good team (and then the final 20 minutes).
“We expected that they would play like this because they had a lot of possession in this league, so we tried to stop them from controlling everything. We changed our pressing with the two wingers and one striker, two number eights.
“Especially first half, we stopped them completely because they didn’t have a shot towards our goal. Unfortunately, we didn’t finish some good counter-attacks, maybe a lack of good pass, first touch, better decision, that should have been more precise towards the opponent’s goal. In the second half, it was a tactical battle, but for me, it was a crucial moment, the first goal. This is something we must defend.
“It was not such a sharp cross. We are in full defence, so we trained for those situations and this is even more painful for me, for the team, for the staff, for everyone.”
City were missing four of their first team, with Oli McBurnie, John Lundstram, and Liam Millar and the suspended Matt Crooks all unavailable, with the gulf in quality off the bench apparent between the two clubs, something Jakirovic acknowledged. He hopes to have Lundstram back for Saturday’s trip to Stoke City.
“I agree completely because they made six changes in the first 11. I would like to have such a wide roster because we have a lot of problems,” he continued.
“Our injured players are important players and they are out. We put everything that we have out there; we tried with substitutions as well, but this goal may have killed us. We tried to put more risk after, and then the second goal comes. I saw now it was not offside. Then we tried with even more risk, but we didn’t have any some situations, and they could punish us with the third goal. Jaden hit the post. Congratulations to Ipswich on the three points and we have to be looking forward.”
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