Sergej Jakirović outlines three improvements Sheffield Wednesday have made ahead of Hull City fixture
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirović has described Sheffield Wednesday as a “dangerous” team ahead of Saturday’s Championship clash at the MKM Stadium, outlining their recent improvements.
Although Wednesday will make the short trip to East Yorkshire on a 33-match winless run across all competitions, they have offered signs of progress in their last few games, providing encouragement they will secure at least one more win before the end of the campaign.
The Owls, who have won just once in the Championship this season, beating Portsmouth 2-0 at Fratton Park back in September, came within a whisker of ending their long winless run against Watford at Hillsborough last Tuesday evening only to be denied by a late equaliser by Vivaldo Semedo.
Wednesday then gave a good account of themselves against automatic promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town last time out, matching them stride for stride for almost 80 minutes before two late goals saw the Tractor Boys scoop all three points.
Except for their 5-0 defeat to Coventry City in October and their 4-0 reverse to Swansea City last month, Wednesday have rarely been taken to the cleaners this season, forcing their opponents to work hard for all three points.
And that is something Hull boss Jakirović has highlighted ahead of what is a must-win game for his side amid their quest to secure a play-off place in their final eight games of the season.
"It will not be easy because I have watched Sheffield Wednesday in their last three games and they look much more organised, much more aggressive, they know what they are doing,” Jakirović told Hull Live.
“Of course, when you see the table, it looks like an easy game but there is no easy game in the Championship. We must be fully focused and concentrated on this game.
"They are dangerous. It seems that they are even better now because nobody beats them comfortably. It's 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, just Swansea 4-0, but that was in the last 15 minutes.
“They have their own ambitious individuals. They were relegated, but they're trying to prove themselves on the pitch, and they will do everything to make it difficult for us."
Wednesday matched Hull every step of the way when they met at Hillsborough earlier this season, contributing to an entertaining 2-2 draw on Boxing Day. Wednesday led twice in that game, scoring either side of half-time via Svante Ingelsson and now-Wrexham striker Bailey Cadamarteri. The Owls have not scored two goals in a game since.