Jakirovic acknowledges Hull must help McBurnie in attack

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic acknowledged striker Oliver McBurnie needs more support in the final third.

McBurnie scored his first goal of the season on Sunday, converting from the penalty spot as Hull drew 1-1 with Brentford.

On what was his 50th appearance for Hull, McBurnie netted his 20th goal for the club – the most of any player for the Tigers in that timeframe.

McBurnie has applied more high-intensity pressures than any other player in the Premier League this season (554), while only three players have applied more final third pressures than the Hull forward (275).

While Jakirovic was delighted to see McBurnie on the scoresheet, he admitted his striker needs help in attack as the Tigers prepare to take on Ipswich Town.

"It's great for us to see Oli score," said Jakirovic.

"It has not been easy for him to play this role because sometimes he is very alone in the box, and often he is one against two, especially when the ball goes wide.

"We must work on getting more numbers in the box in those situations because it will make us more dangerous and make our opponents drop back more as well.

"However, Oli certainly doesn't suffer any confidence problems. I'd said to him that a goal will come, but more so, it is about performing all over the pitch – to win the ball and play it as we see him do so much.

"He takes pressure off us by doing this and winning free kicks."

Ipswich also drew 1-1 last time out, coming back from a goal down to share the points with Nottingham Forest.

The Tractor Boys took a more defensive approach to the second half, recording just one shot, which came in the 92nd minute, after the restart.

Gary O'Neil praised his Ipswich side's determination and resilience to hold out for a draw against Forest.

"We were never quite able to get our style to get on top of theirs, really. Maybe a little spell in the first half where we got some control," said O'Neil.

"But yeah, one where we had to show a different side to make sure we got something from the game.

"We could have still won it, of course. We had some good moments; [Jack] Clarkey came on and had a big chance again.

"But one where togetherness and shutting up a little bit – going a little bit safer – managed to get us through to the finish line, and I'm proud of the players because it's not easy to do that, so a good point for us."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hull City – Mohamed Belloumi

Mohamed Belloumi has completed more dribbles than any other player in the Premier League this season (19), while his success rate of 61% (19/31) is the highest of any player to have attempted at least 15.

Ipswich Town – Julio Enciso

Julio Enciso has had more shots from outside the box than any other player in the Premier League this season (17), with his opener against Forest last time out coming from range.

MATCH PREDICTION: HULL CITY WIN

This is the first-ever top-flight meeting between Hull and Ipswich, the 1,456th fixture to have been played in England's top division (946th in the Premier League). The Tigers are winless in five league games against the Tractor Boys (D1 L4).

Both Hull and Ipswich have 10 points in the league this season, the first time two promoted sides have double figures after eight games since 2010-11 (West Brom 12, Blackpool 10).

It is also the joint-earliest two promoted sides have faced each other with 10+ points, along with West Brom (10) v Hull (17) on MD9 in 2008-09.

Having won their first two Premier League games this season, Hull are now winless in six (D4 L2), with no side currently on a longer run without victory than the Tigers (Manchester United and Sunderland also six).

However, Ipswich have conceded in each of their last 27 Premier League games (eight this season, final 19 in 2024-25). The last team to have a longer run without a clean sheet were Watford (30 between March 2020 and January 2022).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Hull City – 45%

Draw – 26.9%

Ipswich Town – 28.1%