Kieran McKenna: Ipswich win over Hull a frustrating watch

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna was relieved to come away with a victory after his side battled to a 1-0 win against promotion rivals Hull in a “frustrating game”

The winning moment came from midfielder Azor Matusiwa’s rocket of a shot from the edge of the penalty area – his first goal for the club – to secure Town’s 12th home win of the season and third victory on the trot.

The win moved McKenna’s side above Millwall into third in the Championship, three points behind second-placed Middlesborough with a game in hand.

But McKenna did not enjoy his side’s victory as much as he did the 3-0 success over Swansea on Saturday.

“It was a tough game, a frustrating game,” he said.

“I think I had a fair idea the type of game it would be. It was so, so different to Saturday.

“There’s bits that we could play our part in that but the reality is that when a team come with good players, good legs, experienced defenders and sit with 11 so deep and take their time every time the ball goes out of play, it’s very rarely going to be a fantastic game of football.

“We didn’t create the pressure that we would have wanted in the first half, didn’t create enough clear-cut chances, probably one clear chance, but didn’t create as much as we like.

“It was really important not to concede and they had a counter threat and we defended some of those well.

“Keeping a clean sheet was a positive and I thought second half was better right up to the point of the goal and came when the pressure was building.”

Hull had won their last five away games in all competitions and had not lost on the road since November.

But head coach Sergej Jakirovic said Town “deserved” to win the game as they moved three points clear of his City side.

“I think Ipswich deserved to win by the one goal,” Jakirovic said.

“But they didn’t create a big chance until this goal. After this goal there was one attack.

“Defensively we were good and this is the only way how you can play against Ipswich because they are very good on the ball, a lot of possession, a lot of good players.

“But after we conceded the goal we showed we can play, we can press them, we can push them and unfortunately we did not score even though we had some situations.

“It’s a lack of better decisions that you can look on the other side that you switch the side and maybe we can play better in these moments.

“It’s frustrating sometimes but it’s quality. We had our moments but we didn’t use it.”