The Championship returns after the international break, and with it comes the familiar churn of ambition, anxiety, and tactical recalibration. For Swansea City, it’s a chance to build momentum and push into the playoff places. The margins are tight, the fixtures unforgiving, and the next few weeks will test whether this squad can turn promise into position.
Hull City arrive in SA1 with attacking flair and defensive fragility. Their new manager brings intensity, but the results have been erratic. For the Swans, it’s a home fixture with purpose. Galbraith’s growing influence, Idah’s hunger, and Vipotnik’s movement all point to a side ready to take control. Saturday isn’t just about three points—it’s about setting the tone for the run ahead.
🎯 IN FOCUS: HULL CITY
Championship, Round 5
Swansea City vs Hull City
Saturday 13 September, Kick-off 3:00pm
Venue: Swansea.com Stadium
🐯 WHO ARE HULL CITY?
Hull City AFC, also known as “The Tigers,” are a Championship club from East Yorkshire, famous for their amber kits, tiger badge, and occasional existential crises. Founded in 1904, they’ve spent most of their history bouncing between the second and third tiers, with a brief Premier League cameo that included Steve Bruce, Tom Huddlestone’s hair, and a Europa League qualifier they’d rather forget.
Their home ground is the MKM Stadium, a bowl-shaped venue that looks like it was designed by someone who once saw a spaceship and thought, “Yeah, that’ll do.” It seats around 25,000, though on cold Tuesday nights, you’d be forgiven for thinking half the crowd had wandered in from the nearby retail park by accident.
Hull’s golden era, if you can call it that, came between 2008 and 2017. They reached the Premier League, lost an FA Cup final to Arsenal after leading 2–0, and briefly became a magnet for players with double-barrelled surnames and questionable fitness records. Since then, it’s been a slow descent into mid-table obscurity, punctuated by ownership drama, badge redesigns, and a fanbase that’s mastered the art of cautious optimism.
Their current owner, Turkish media mogul Acun Ilıcalı, is best known for producing reality TV shows and promising “global exposure” for Hull City. So far, this has translated into a few flashy signings, a lot of Instagram content, and a club shop that now sells tiger-striped yoga mats. The jury’s still out.
On the pitch, Hull are a mixed bag. They’ve got attacking flair—Joe Gelhardt, Matt Crooks, and the ever-erratic Belloumi—but defensively, they’re shakier than a pensioner on a pogo stick. Their new manager, Sergej Jakirović, brings European pedigree and a pressing system that looks great on paper but often collapses under Championship chaos.
Culturally, Hull fans are loyal, blunt, and allergic to nonsense. They’ll travel in decent numbers, sing when they’re winning, and groan like seasoned philosophers when they’re not. Their chant game is solid, their pies are underrated, and their relationship with the club’s branding team is best described as strained.
So who are Hull City?
They’re a club that once had Jimmy Bullard, now have Oli McBurnie, and always seem one result away from either a playoff push or a managerial sacking. They’re proud, peculiar, and perpetually rebuilding. And on Saturday, they’ll arrive in SA1 with a point to prove, a tiger on their chest, and a midfield that might spontaneously combust if pressed too hard.
In short, they’re Hull. And that’s both a warning and a compliment.
🧠 MANAGER PROFILE: SERGEJ JAKIROVIĆ
Hull’s latest managerial appointment, Sergej Jakirović, arrives with tactical ambition and a CV stamped across Europe’s second-tier battlegrounds. Born in Mostar in 1976, Jakirović spent two decades as a defensive midfielder before turning to coaching in 2017. His managerial journey has taken him through Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, and Turkey, with intense, short-lived stints at Dinamo Zagreb, Maribor, and Kayserispor.
His most notable success came at Zrinjski Mostar, where he won the Bosnian Premier League in 2022, and at Dinamo Zagreb, where he lifted both the Croatian league and cup in 2024. Longevity, however, has never been his strong suit. He rarely stays beyond a season, and his tenure at Dinamo ended abruptly after a 9–2 Champions League thrashing by Bayern Munich.
Jakirović is a manager who thrives on control and confrontation. He wants his teams to dominate the middle third, disrupt rhythm, and force mistakes. His touchline presence is intense, often animated, and occasionally combustible. He’s not afraid to call out players publicly, and his post-match interviews tend to swing between tactical clarity and emotional volatility.
At Hull, he’s inherited a squad still adjusting to his demands. The intent is clear. Raise intensity, sharpen transitions, and instil a sense of urgency that’s been missing since their last serious promotion push. Whether the players can match that intent physically and mentally is another question. Early signs suggest a disconnect between ambition and execution, especially when games start to unravel.
Supporters are watching closely. Jakirović isn’t a long-term builder. He’s a fixer, a disruptor, and a manager who believes in short-term impact. If it clicks, Hull could become a nightmare to play against. If it doesn’t, expect fireworks before Christmas.
📉 FORM GUIDE: LAST FOUR LEAGUE MATCHES
Hull’s opening month has been a rollercoaster of defensive lapses and attacking flashes:
• Coventry 0–0 Hull (A)
A cagey opener at the Ricoh. Hull sat deep, absorbed pressure, and escaped with a point thanks to Dillon Phillips’ sharp reflexes. Little attacking threat, but a clean sheet offered early optimism.
• Hull 3–2 Oxford (H)
A chaotic home win. Joe Gelhardt and Matt Crooks ran riot in the first half, but defensive frailty nearly cost them. Oxford twice came from behind to make it to 2–2 before Belloumi’s late winner. Entertaining, but fragile.
• Hull 0–3 Blackburn (H)
A sobering reality check. Hull were overrun in midfield and exposed on the flanks. Jakirović’s press collapsed under Blackburn’s composure. Fans booed at full-time, first signs of tactical disconnect.
• Bristol City 4–2 Hull (A)
Another defensive collapse. Despite goals from McBurnie and Crooks, Hull conceded four, including two from set pieces. Jakirović’s post-match comments hinted at frustration with player discipline and fitness levels.
Across these four, Hull have scored five and conceded nine. The attacking spark is there, but the back line looks brittle, especially under pressure away from home.
🎤 FAN INTERVIEW: VIEW FROM THE FERRY TERMINAL
By Baz “Tiger Baz” Thompson, East Hull
I’m not going down to Swansea. Not this time. I’ve done it before, and fair play, it’s a cracking away day when we’re half decent. But right now? I’ll save the petrol and watch it from the sofa. Got my scarf, got my bacon butty, and I’ve warned the missus I’ll be swearing by half-time.
Jakirović’s got ideas, I’ll give him that. Wants us pressing like lunatics and playing out like we’re Real Madrid. But half the squad look like they’ve just come off a night shift, and the other half are still figuring out where they’re meant to be. It’s chaos. Entertaining, but not in a good way.
We’ve got a few who can play. Gelhardt’s got a bit about him, Crooks is a lump but he gets stuck in, and Belloumi—well, he’s either magic or missing. No in-between. But defensively? We’re soft. Like, proper soft. That Bristol City game was embarrassing. Four goals, and we made it look easy for them. Set pieces, transitions, basic marking—none of it stuck.
Swansea? Always tidy. Even when they’re off it, they’ve got a shape. That lad Vipotnik up top looks sharp, and Galbraith in midfield, he’s got a bit of class. If we give them space, they’ll play through us. And we will give them space, because we always do.
McBurnie’s the one I’m watching. He’s got history with you lot, hasn’t he? Could’ve gone back there this summer, but we offered more coin and a starting spot. I like him. Bit of needle, bit of fight. If he scores, I’ll be unbearable. If he doesn’t, I’ll still say he played well. That’s how it works.
Prediction? I’m going 2–2. McBurnie to score, obviously. Maybe Belloumi with a worldie. But if we don’t show a bit of grit, it could be a long afternoon. Swansea are no mugs, and they’ll punish us if we switch off.
Anyway, I’ll be watching from home. Volume up, remote in hand, and a doughnut lined up for half-time. If we nick a point, I’ll call it progress. If we collapse again, I’ll be back on the podcast by tea time asking why our centre-backs turn into traffic cones the minute someone runs at them.
🕰️ WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN: OLI McBURNIE
This summer, the reunion felt close enough to touch.
Oli McBurnie, 29, out of contract and freshly relegated with Las Palmas, was available. No transfer fee, no Premier League price tag. Just a striker with history, heart, and unfinished business in SA1. For a few weeks, it wasn’t just speculation. It was plausible. Emotional. Real.
Swansea needed a number nine. Someone with Championship pedigree, terrace memory, and the kind of chaos that turns half-chances into limbs. McBurnie ticked every box. The club’s director of football, Richard Montague, even confirmed he was “on various lists” and “a very, very good player.” Supporters buzzed. The chant was ready. The return felt possible.
But it didn’t happen.
Hull didn’t move faster. They moved with more money. A three-year deal, higher wages, and a guaranteed starting role. Swansea hesitated. Budget constraints, fitness concerns, maybe emotional risk. Hull didn’t. And just like that, the reunion was off.
But our loss may yet prove our gain.
Because instead of McBurnie, Swansea landed Adam Idah. Twenty-four years old, Irish international, Champions League experience, and a point to prove. Signed from Celtic for a significant fee, Idah arrives with pace, power, and a hunger sharpened by criticism. He’s already spoken about the hate he endured in Glasgow and the fresh start he’s chasing in SA1.
And so Saturday becomes a striker’s duel.
McBurnie, the one who got away again. Idah, the one who chose us. Both will lead the line. Both will carry expectation. And both will be judged, not just on goals, but on presence, movement, and impact.
For Swansea supporters, it’s not just about who scores. It’s about who fits. Who fights. Who feels like ours.
🧓 NAN’S VIEW: FROM THE TOP OF TOWNHILL
I don’t trust that tiger. Never have. Hull City turn up every season with a new manager, a new badge, and the same old problems. Their kit looks like it’s been designed by someone who’s never seen a tiger in daylight, and their midfield moves like it’s stuck in molasses. I’ve seen more urgency in the queue at Greggs.
Their new boss, that Jakirović fella, looks like he’s about to sell me a dodgy patio heater. All arms and shouting, no structure. I watched them against Bristol City and nearly dropped my crossword. Four goals conceded, and not one defender knew where their feet were. If that’s pressing football, I’ll stick to my knitting.
And don’t get me started on McBurnie. He could’ve come back here. Should’ve, really. But no, off to Hull for the money and a guaranteed start. I liked him when he was ours. Bit of fight, bit of chaos. Now he’s got a haircut like he’s auditioning for Love Island and a run-up like he’s chasing the bus. If he scores on Saturday, I’ll be fuming. If he doesn’t, I’ll say he was lucky to get picked.
I do like our new lad though. Adam Idah. Irish, strong, and looks like he’s got legs on him. Reminds me of a young John Toshack, if Toshack had played with a chip on his shoulder. If he scores, I’ll make him a tray of corned beef pasties. Proper ones. Not that flaky nonsense they sell in the stadium.
I’ll be watching from the living room. Got the telly on, remote in hand, and a doughnut ready for half-time. Swans to win 2–1. And if we don’t, I’ll be writing a strongly worded note to the Evening Post. In pencil. With underlines.
🧍♂️ REF WATCH: DAVID WEBB
The man with the whistle, the cards, and the occasional blind spot
David Webb’s back. The Lancashire official who’s reffed more Swansea games than some of our own academy lads have played. Twenty-one times he’s taken charge of us, and if you’re wondering how many of those ended in baffled looks and sarcastic applause, the answer is: most.
He’s not the worst, but he’s got a habit. Loves a soft booking early on, then forgets he’s got a yellow in his pocket until the 88th minute when someone finally commits GBH. If there’s a penalty shout, don’t expect consistency. He once gave one against us for “intent to trip” when the lad was still upright.
Webb’s the kind of ref who gestures a lot. Big arm movements, dramatic pauses, and that look like he’s explaining quantum physics to a ball boy. He’ll let Hull kick through the back of Galbraith twice before remembering what a foul is, then book Fulton for breathing near the halfway line.
And McBurnie? It wouldn’t surprise me if Webb sent him off for dissent before he even uses up all his swear words. The lad’s got form, and Webb’s got a short fuse when the volume goes up.
On the plus side, he’s not one for VAR confusion. Mainly because he doesn’t have it. What he sees is what we get. And what we get is usually a lot of pointing, a few baffling decisions, and a fourth official who looks like he’s just there to hold the board and nod politely.
Assistants: David Harrison and George Byrne
Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty, who once gave a throw-in the wrong way and stuck to it like it was gospel
Overall rating: 6.8 out of 10
Will always deny a limbs moment when it matters most, then hand out a random yellow card that nobody understands—least of all him.
🔮 MATCH PREDICTION: SWANSEA CITY VS HULL CITY
Two sides with ambition, but only one with a midfield that knows what it’s doing.
Swansea arrive with rhythm. Galbraith’s dictating play, Vipotnik’s movement is causing problems, and Adam Idah looks like he’s ready to turn pressure into points. There’s still fragility at the back, especially under set-piece pressure, but the shape is holding and the intent is clear.
Hull? They’re a wildcard. Jakirović wants chaos with structure, but so far it’s just chaos. They’ve got attacking spark—Gelhardt, Crooks, Belloumi—and McBurnie’s return to SA1 adds bite. But defensively, they’re brittle. If Swansea press early and play through the gaps, this could unravel fast.
Expect goals, flashpoints, and at least one moment where McBurnie tries to wind up the East Stand. But if the Swans stay composed, this is a game they should take by the throat.
Prediction: Swansea win, but not without drama. 3–2, and Nan’s doughnut well-earned by half-time.
📊 MATCH OUTCOME PROBABILITIES
| 🏆 Result | 📊 Probability |
|---|---|
| Swansea Win | 52.3% |
| Draw | 26.3% |
| Hull Win | 21.4% |
Plenty of tickets still available for Saturday, and the stands are calling. If ever there was a moment to back the Swans, it’s now—home turf, playoff ambition, and a chance to turn noise into momentum.
