Hull City boss Sergej Jakirović was very complimentary of Sheffield Wednesday and manager Henrik Pedersen after his side’s 2-2 draw at Hillsborough on Boxing Day.

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirović said Sheffield Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen is doing a “great job” at Hillsborough amid the crisis the club has faced this season following Friday afternoon’s 2-2 draw at Hillsborough.

The Yorkshire counterparts served up an entertaining Boxing Day encounter in S6, equally sharing four goals. Wednesday led twice via goals from Svante Ingelsson and Bailey Cadamarteri, who scored either side of a Mohamed Belloumi effort, before Matt Crooks ensured the points were shared.

Winning each of their last three games prior to Christmas, Hull were widely expected to turn up at Hillsborough and put Wednesday to the sword. However, it was the Owls who produced the better of the play, deservedly taking something from the contest.

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Wednesday were down to the bare-bones for the visit of the Tigers, meaning Pedersen was forced to include 13 players under the age of 21 in his matchday squad. Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath was the only senior player among the substitutes.

Despite the ongoing crisis, Jakirović, who said his side “played like it’s Christmas”, credited Pedersen for the job he is doing at Hillsborough in such testing circumstances, admitting he is impressed by the way the Dane is motivating his players despite the club already having one foot in League One for next season.

Jakirović praises Pedersen and Owls

“This is a very big club, an old club,” Jakirović told The Star. “There are a lot of traditions here. But you have some problems, and maybe you cannot even change this because you only have this and have that.

“But the players, the group, the coach, they always find motivation even in this situation. It's a great job from the head coach for sure because you must find a way how you will motivate your team in this situation, when you're already relegated.

“So this is a great job, and congratulations. They were very good today.”

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Wednesday were head and shoulders above Hull in the first half, producing some of the slickest football they have played all season. After the break, despite retaking the lead, they did experience fatigue - an issue that is to be expected in their current situation.

Nevertheless, Jakirović praised Wednesday’s fighting spirit, adding: “They're fighting every game. Sheffield Wednesday has very good character in their situation.

“It's not an on the pitch situation; it's outside of the pitch. Especially in the first half, against every opponent, they're playing good.”