'Kick up the backside' - Sergej Jakirovic impresses as Hull City seek response

Clinton Morrison believes last weekend's dismal showing at Fulham will serve as a kick up the backside to the newly promoted Tigers, who had started the season well.

City were beaten 1-0 at Craven Cottage, and while the scoreline suggests the contest was a close affair, it was anything but, with Sergej Jakirovic blasting the performance as the worst of his tenure.

That display was out of character for the Tigers, who before that trip to West London had impressed in their previous six games and in the process taken nine points.

Morrison, who is a regular on Sky Sports, says he's a big fan of Jakirovic and owner Acun Ilicali, and is keen to see the Tigers bounce back against a Brentford side reeling from losing at home to Liverpool last weekend and in the process having two influential players sent off.

"Yeah, they need a kick up the backside," Morrison told Hull Live via BetSelect. "I've been so impressed, and the manager, Jakirović, he's not someone you mess with. I can guarantee he wouldn't have been happy with that performance, because that was probably the worst performance Hull have produced this season.

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"They've been excellent against some of the big boys, like Man United and Chelsea. They've been outstanding, and then they put in a performance like that against Fulham. Give credit to Fulham; Fulham were good, but I thought Hull were poor. They'll want to bounce back, for sure.

Oli McBurnie is yet to get off the mark either for City or Scotland, but chances for the 30-year-old have come at a premium, and former striker Morrison believes Jakirovoc should stick with him.

"Yeah, I think he will. The thing with Oli McBurnie is that even when he's not scoring, he's key to how Hull want to play," he explained. "He's a target man; he brings people into play, wins the ball, gets assists, and holds the ball up ever so well. He'll want to score goals in the Premier League, because I know what it's like as a centre forward. But he's doing so much for that football club, inside and outside the box, and winning free kicks.

"I don't think the coaching staff and the fans will be too bothered about him not scoring. I don't think they've got another striker in their ranks who could do what Oli McBurnie does for that team. So I think you stick with him. He needs one to just go in.

"As a striker, you want to see your name on the scoresheet in the Premier League. First and foremost, he'll be thinking, I want Hull to survive in the Premier League, because that's your main aim. But at the back of your mind, as a striker, and strikers are selfish, you are thinking, when is it going to come? And it's worse when pundits and people keep talking about how he hasn't scored yet.

"There'll be more. Definitely, there will be more. It's going to be difficult because of the style Hull play. They won't create many chances. McBurnie's further up, causing all sorts of headaches for the defenders, and others are getting the second ball. But he'll get one for sure."

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