The Tigers have been handed 18 yellow cards in five league games
Sergej Jakirovic
Sergej Jakirovic(Image: (Alfie Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images))
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With five games of the Premier League season played Hull City sit top of one particular table, with their 18 yellow cards by far the most picked up by any side in the division so far.
The Tigers are 20 percent ahead of second placed Bournemouth, who have received 14 yellow cards, and they're miles ahead of fellow promoted sides Ipswich Town (9) and Coventry City (4). It's not the sort of table to start a terrace chant over and not one which usually brings any sort of pride attached to it, that is, unless you're Sergej Jakirovic.
The City boss is not tasking his side with seeing if they can top the bad boys chart, but it has been clear since the opening game that he has placed an emphasis on aggression and defensive solidity. "In my opinion, defence wins titles and of course, our title is to stay in the league," said Jakirovic last month.
While he may have joked before the Chelsea game that City's tactic was to simply "kick them" when it came to facing the Blues at Stamford Bridge, there was a more complex message behind that headline-grabbing one liner.
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See his response at full-time against Aston Villa earlier in the campaign. "I wasn't too happy with the aggression in the first half because in the first half we made just four fouls, especially in the midfield when we have to be more aggressive."
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City want to get in the faces of teams this season, they want to be aggressive and give the opposition something else to worry about. That's worked so far as the eight points gained proves. And yet, there needs to be an element of caution too because for all the new signings, the Tigers don't want to start losing too many players to bans.
Matt Crooks and Oli McBurnie have three yellow cards each, the most of the City squad. Disciplinary rules state that any player who earns five bookings from their side's first 19 games serves a one-match suspension, while 10 yellow cards in the first 32 games results in a two-match ban.
The Tigers are only averaging 10 fouls per match, which is way down the standings and makes them one of the best for not conceding free-kicks, but they have the most yellow cards. The ratio is something to be improved upon, but don't expect the message from the man at the top to change. Jakirovic wants aggression and he'll make sure to tell his players if he doesn't believe he's getting it!
Teams with most yellow cards
Hull City - 18
Bournemouth - 14
Nottingham Forest - 13
Bright and Hove Albion - 12
Liverpool - 12
Newcastle United - 12
Brentford - 11
Aston Villa - 10
Sunderland - 10
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