Jakirovic rues penalty call and pinpoints Hull City's main issue at Sunderland

The Tigers lost the Carabao Cup tie 1-0 at the Stadium of Light, with Chemsdine Talbi's counter attacking effort ultimately handing them their first defeat of the season.

However, it could have been very different had Robinio Vaz been awarded a penalty in the opening five minutes of the contest. On his debut for the club, Vaz showed his strength immediately by latching onto a bouncing ball, holding off his man and turning to charge into the box.

He was bundled over before he could get a shot away, though, with Luke O'Nien appearing to catch Vaz's calf.

Referee Paul Tierney wasn't interested, waving away City's protests before bringing play to a halt for Vaz to be treated.

"From what I saw yes," Jakirovic said when asked if City should have had a penalty. "It's a foul. You have a kick in the calf, an elbow in the head and if it's in the box, it's a penalty.

Giving his general thoughts on a night City lacked the quality needed to secure their place in the fourth round of the competition, Jakirovic added: "I think we played a 50/50 game today until the first mistake.

"We had some good actions, Sunderland also had good actions. Maybe the goal we conceded we have to be better organised there with the long ball but great finishing at the end.

"I think we had the best chance of the game through Joe Gelhardt and maybe we feel like we can score but unfortunately we didn't.

"Maybe through all the game we had some good actions but a lack of better decisions and finishing. I know where is the problem, maybe the lack of fitness, a lack of energy with the new players.

"Also they were playing for the first time together in official games. It's not easy and with all the principles that we have but OK, it will be better. We have to work a lot on their fitness and then everything will be good."

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