Sergej Jakirovic said Liam Millar did not dare miss Hull City's winning goal at Coventry City having already passed up one opportunity to score.
And the Tigers coach insisted left-back Ryan Giles will not be leaving in this transfer window, despite strong reports to the contrary.
Millar scored the only goal of the game as Hull won 1-0 at Coventry City to follow up their opening-weekend win over Manchester United. Yet still Jakirovic admitted the winger could leave before Tuesday's transfer window as he looks to juggle 12 new signings with more to come, he hopes.
Minutes before his goal, Millar had missed a similar chance when through on goal – on that occasion with the option of squaring to Mohamed Belloumi.
Centre-forward Oli McBurnie spoke of how Millar would have been thinking about his miss as he went through one-on-one with Carl Rushworth, and Jakirovic felt the consequences of failing again would have been uppermost in his mind.
"He knows I will punish him,” he said. "I did this against Norwich away (last season), if you remember. Kyle Joseph didn't play it to Darko (Gyabi) – 500 (pounds), thank you. Because you must play (pass).
"Okay, joking. But he showed great mentality. He stayed strong because we know what he's capable of doing.
"He's a very fast player, especially in these wide spaces. We knew that the centre-backs would struggle with the balls behind them.
DIRECT MANAGEMENT: Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic (Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)placeholder image
DIRECT MANAGEMENT: Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic (Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
"An excellent ball from Mo Belloumi as well. Calm finishing, excellent.
"(It was an) excellent victory. Unbelievable.
“We played well.
"We played compact, solid, aggressive. I expected a strong start from Coventry because after 25 years they are playing at home – first game (back in the Premier League).
STAYING PUT: Ryan Giles (Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)placeholder image
STAYING PUT: Ryan Giles (Image: David Rogers/Getty Images)
"Maybe they caused some problems on our right side with (Jack) Rudoni on the left side, this triangle. So we tried to improve this and also maybe first half some better decisions on the ball in the counter-attacks because I felt that there is a lot of space on our left side. But this is also experience.
"At half-time, two changes, because of the dead leg of Coyle (Lewie Coyle) and (Hidemasa) Morita played his last game three months ago. Then I think that we looked good there. We controlled everything."
As someone whose job is to score goals, McBurnie was impressed with substitute Millar too.
"I think Millar was a bit disappointed with the first one and then showed massive balls to score the second one," said the centre-forward.
"I'll be honest, as a striker, it's not the one you want when you've just missed the chance where you've run in with it for 40 yards and you've got to think about it.
"You've got too much time to think. You almost want an instinctive one that you can just pass in.
"He showed really big balls to go and finish it and were really delighted for him."
But Jakirovic's approach is indicative of the way his dressing room operates – tough and grown-up despite a raft of new signings under the age of 25.
"Who I'm bringing in the dressing room, it's very important," insisted Jakirovic.
"They know if they will do something in terms of dressing room – (bad) behaviour or something – you are gone. It's a very, very direct approach."
During the game Hull's fans responded to rumours that Giles is heading to Burnley by singing about how much they want him to stay. Jakirovic was adamant they will get their wish, but other players will have to leave with the Tigers set to have more senior players than the 25 they can register if not. Even Millar could be surplus to requirements.
"No," was Jakirovic's instant and blunt response as soon as Giles' name was mentioned in the post-match press conference.
"Nothing," he continued when pressed. "No Burnley, no nothing. This is my answer to everyone.
"Just in one case. If Burnley will pay £20m and if Ryan Giles comes to me and says, 'I want to go,' he can go.
"Why would he go? He's a Premier League player now."
The transfer window closes at 11pm on Tuesday, and Hull are still looking to add players in a number of positions.
"I can't wait to finish this transfer window," said the former Bosnia midfielder.
"My head will explode.
"There's a lot of gossip, rumours. I have to prepare my team.
"If a player comes to you on Friday (asking) 'What's going on?' because he doesn't know anything, this is the problem – about concentration and everything.
"I expect him to be normal on the pitch.
"We are chasing some players. I hope we will bring two or three."
Asked if he wanted Millar to stay, he replied: "Of course, he's our player.
"(But) if we bring two or three wingers, and we have a problem with at list of 25, one has to go. Who, I don't know. Because we cannot register over 25 players.
"I had a conversation with Kieran (Dowell), a very honest conversation. This is the problem.
"He will try to find something. We will also try to help him to find a loan so that he can play this season.
"(Abdilkadir Omur and David Akintola) also – there is no space. For me, the worst scenario for the players is to stay out of the squad without registration.
Dead players.
"Everything is possible. If somebody offers something, we will see."
Hull looked at right-backs earlier in the window, and could do again. Coyle came off injured in the west Midlands, but only with a dead leg.
"Depends what is on the market," replied Jakirovic when asked if he was looking for another player there. "If it's better what we have, yes.
"Goalkeeper? Also a good question. Because we are taking a lot of risks because with Jack (Butland), the prediction is (he will be out with an arm injury) until December. He is very positive and we will see."