Sergej Jakirovic feels Hull played with ‘cold head and heart’ in win over Derby

Head coach Sergej Jakirovic felt his side played with a “cold head and a cold heart” as Hull moved up to fourth place in the Sky Bet Championship with a 4-2 win at home to Derby.

Second-half goals from John Egan and Lewis Koumas ended the Tigers’ minor dip in form – they had lost two on the spin in the league – as Derby were made to pay for not taking their chances.

Jakirovic said: “I’m very happy because the players showed a great team effort – a lot of fight all around the pitch.

“We changed our style – we were very pragmatic, but we were also very aggressive in our challenges.

“We have to continue like this. I said to the lads before the game, ‘I don’t care about possession’, and that was maybe something to think about for next time.

“It was just about how we took three points that mattered.”

Hull were good value for their ninth-minute lead when Callum Elder scored an own goal against his former employers.

But Derby made it 1-1 soon afterwards as Craig Forsyth tapped in when Ivor Pandur parried Lewis Travis’ strong hit straight into his path.

Oli McBurnie dragged Hull back in front after 39 minutes when he seized upon another Elder error, but Sammie Szmodics restored parity before the break.

Despite the comprehensive-looking full-time scoreline, the game could have gone either way in the second half.

Bobby Clark squandered a routine one-on-one for Derby – one of several decent chances for the visitors, who were made to pay through Egan’s instinctive effort and Koumas’ sweet volley.

Jakirovic said: “I don’t look at the table. I am just looking how we take three points because it is very tight.

“The goals we gave away were poor, but I think that we were good on the first ball and in set-pieces.

“At half-time, I said we are the better team and that we had to play with a cold head and a cold heart and not to be naive.

“They are a physical side – they are a tall, strong team. Every set-piece ball was very dangerous and we coped very well.

“We had to improvise. We deserved to be lucky, especially from previous games.”

Derby have lost two on the bounce – they are now 11th in the table – but John Eustace refused to be too downhearted by their performance.

He said: “I’m disappointed to lose, of course. It was a cracking game and I’m proud of the efforts of the group.

“We had great chances to score more, but I was disappointed with all four goals we gave away.

“We were very disappointed (against Watford) on Saturday, but we battled very well and should really be coming away with at least a point.

“We’ve had three or four one-one-one chances – we could have scored five or six goals for sure – but goals change games.

“If we put one of them away it’s a different story, but we were against a top team who took their chances.”