Hull City’s draw at Oxford United left a sharper question than the point total: why is oli mcburnie being left with so little to work with? Head coach Sergej Jakirovic admitted that his side must do more to bring the striker into games, after McBurnie went a seventh match without scoring in the 1-1 result. The concern is not only the drought itself, but the pattern behind it — a forward with a strong return this season being fed too few clean chances inside the box.
Why the final-third problem matters now
The immediate issue is clear from Friday’s contest. Hull took the lead through Mo Belloumi, but Oxford responded and finished the game feeling they had the stronger opportunities. For Hull, the bigger story was that their attack again lacked the precision needed to turn possession into meaningful service for oli mcburnie. Jakirovic said the team must be better with its delivery, especially from wide areas, because the crosses were not reaching the right places in the right way.
That matters because McBurnie’s last goal came in the first half of Hull’s 4-2 win over Derby County in February, and since then he has been operating on limited supply. The coach’s criticism was not vague or emotional; it was technical. He said the crossings into the box were “too low, too short or too long, ” which leaves a striker with experience but little margin for impact. In a tight race, those details can decide whether a forward is involved in the match or merely isolated by it.
What lies beneath Jakirovic’s criticism
Jakirovic’s comments point to a structural problem rather than a simple dip in form. Ryan Giles’ absence has removed one of the players who had been creating regularly for oli mcburnie earlier in the season, and Hull have had to improvise on the left side. Jakirovic noted that Coyle has been asked to operate there despite it not being his natural position, while against Sheffield Wednesday Paddy McNair filled the role as a centre-back. That kind of adjustment may keep the shape intact, but it can also disrupt the rhythm and timing needed to supply a striker.
The result is a side that can reach advanced areas without consistently producing the quality of pass or cross that converts pressure into chances. Hull showed they can threaten, but not yet with the fluency Jakirovic expects. His frustration on the touchline, he said, came from knowing what his players can do and not seeing it repeated with enough consistency. In other words, the issue is not a lack of ambition; it is the gap between ambition and execution.
Oli McBurnie, defensive attention, and the next test
There is also a growing tactical response from opponents. West Brom boss James Morrison said after a recent 3-0 win that he had brought Nat Phillips into the team to mark oli mcburnie, underlining how much attention the forward is beginning to draw. Jakirovic acknowledged that other teams are defending the box better and are aware of McBurnie’s quality. That recognition is a compliment, but it also increases the pressure on Hull to solve the supply problem quickly.
The timing is important because Hull now want a response against leaders Coventry City on Monday evening. Jakirovic said he expected more after seeing what his players have already shown across most of the season. The implication is straightforward: if McBurnie remains the focal point, the team must adjust its service accordingly, or risk turning a proven weapon into a peripheral figure.
What the Oxford draw suggests for Hull City
Oxford United’s account of the match showed how much attacking energy can exist without control of the result. Hull resisted pressure, blocked efforts in their box, and kept the score level, but they also produced too few moments that made McBurnie decisive at the other end. That balance is what makes the draw revealing. It was not just about a single missed chance or one poor cross; it exposed an attack still searching for the right structure around its main target.
For Hull, the next question is not whether oli mcburnie has quality. Jakirovic has already made that clear. The real test is whether the team can restore the kind of service that makes that quality matter again — or whether opponents will continue to squeeze him out of games before he gets a proper sight of goal.
