The Tigers host the Sky Blues in front of the television cameras on Monday night
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
05:00, 06 Apr 2026
Sergej Jakirovic is plotting a way to trip up Coventry City on Monday night and boost his own side’s promotion hopes (Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic remains calm about the play-off situation after he saw his side struggle to a 1-1 draw at struggling Oxford United on Friday, as he prepares to tackle a Coventry City outfit he believes will be champions.
Coventry were 3-2 winners over Derby County on Good Friday to move 12 points clear of third with only six games to go, and will arrive at the MKM Stadium knowing victory will take them a giant step closer to the Premier League.
For City, they have a four-point cushion over seventh, but have seen their form slip in recent weeks with two wins in their past six games, and have their own destiny firmly in their own hands.
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“It’s good. We have everything in our hands, so you can blame nobody, just us. We must take the points. We have to take points, and everything will be good,” the Croatian told Hull Live.
“I watched this Middlesbrough vs Millwall game – you can watch, but you cannot change anything. We can change because we are playing. We will try everything to take the points for the play-offs.”
Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues have been the best team all season, and Jakirovic is full of praise for the job the ex-Chelsea and England midfielder has done in the West Midlands.
The pair met on the opening day of the season at the CBS Arena, when both sides played out a goalless draw in the early August sunshine, and now both are vying for a place in the top flight at the end of a pulsating campaign, with the Croatian keen to see a raucous home crowd.
“It’s a big game,” the City boss continued. “Yes, it was a long time ago, this game on August 9th, unbelievable. Is Lampard still the coach? I’m joking. Great team, the best team, a winning mentality.
“They showed maybe even they had a little bit drop, but then, especially after this game against Middlesbrough, they showed quality, strength, and they will be first. They will be champions.
“They will go to the Premier League, and this is a nice challenge for us. I’m expecting sold out, expecting sold out. I’m expecting a big support, loud support, and we will do everything to have a good performance, to take something from them.”
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