Hull City

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Oxford United welcome Hull City for a crucial encounter with ramifications at both ends of the table on Friday (kick-off 15:00 BST).

The U's had been on a four-game unbeaten run (W3 D1) before their defeat to Southampton last time out and are 23rd but just one point adrift of safety.

The play-off chasing Tigers beat bottom side Sheffield Wednesday before the international break but have lost three of their past five games.

Hull are fifth, three points clear of seventh-placed Wrexham and five points behind the automatic promotion places.

• Oxford have won just one of their previous six league games against Hull (D1 L4), though it did come in this exact fixture last season (1-0).

• Following their 3-2 win in August, Hull are looking to complete their third league double over Oxford United after 1965-66 and 1975-76.

• Oxford are unbeaten in their past three home league games (W2 D1), having failed to win (D2 L3) or score in any of their previous five at the Kassam Stadium.

• No side has won more away games in the Championship than Hull City this season (10), though the Tigers have lost two of their past three on the road.

• Oliver McBurnie has been involved in more goals than any other Championship player this season (20 – 13 goals, 7 assists). He's the first Hull player to reach 20 goal involvements in a Championship campaign since Jarrod Bowen in 2019-20 (23).

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Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic said his injury-hit side need a break after a jaded performance in the 3-1 win over already relegated Sheffield Wednesday.

"Everyone was expecting three points," Jakirovic said. "But I knew it would be a tough game as they are aggressive, dangerous on the counter-attack and difficult to break down.

"I'm very pleased with the boys. We left everything on the pitch because it was not easy.

"We will use this break for mental and physical recovery. We have played so many games with our problems and our injuries so they deserve this rest.

"We hope the international players come back healthy and then we have seven games. We must be ready for every one of the them – and we will be.

"But for seven days I don't want to see anyone. I will go back to Croatia, but I will not be able to switch off from football."

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has mixed feelings about the upcoming international break.

The Tigers are fifth in the Championship table and host relegated Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (15:00 GMT) before the two-week break for international matches.

"It's good we have a two-week break," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"(But) We have eight international players and I hope they get some minutes but it's more important they stay healthy."

Hull have suffered a number of injury problems throughout the season and Jakirovic is wary of asking too much of players returning from long trips with their national teams.

"We may have some problems when they return from the international games - Ivor Pandur (Croatia) is in South America, Semi Ajayi (Nigeria ) is in Jordan, and Liam Miller is with Canada in Toronto so that could be a problem but we will see when they come back," he added.

"I understand the World Cup is coming and the players want to be on their list and it is a big dream for them. We are proud of our international players."

Jakirovic also confirmed Hull decided not to appeal against the sending-off of Charlie Hughes against West Bromwich Albion last weekend after he realised the suspension will only be for one game rather than two, so the defender will miss the meeting with Sheffield Wednesday.

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Jobi McAnuff believes just five teams are fighting it out for two Championship play-off spots.

In the latest edition of the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast, Aaron Paul and McAnuff were joined by AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson discuss the top stories from the EFL.

Watford's 3-1 win over Wrexham on Tuesday opened the door for Southampton to take over the Welsh side's top-six spot - and they did so, winning 1-0 against Norwich on Wednesday.

Watford are ninth, five points behind the Saints with eight games to go, while Birmingham are a further two points behind in 10th.

McAnuff said: "Watford are still in the mix. I feel like seven points feels a bit too big at this stage of the season. Birmingham feels a little far away.

"Southampton are the ones I believed would come through and get a play-off place.

"A couple of weeks ago I'd have said there's only one place up for grabs (sixth). That's changed now, (fifth-placed) Hull have been really inconsistent so they have been brought into it a lot more.

"You've got Easter coming up, six points can go in a week. You have a quick turnaround. If you can put a run of games together you can really jump up four or five places in the space of a few days. Anyone down to Watford (can make it), Birmingham feels a little too far away at this stage."

Hull City will aim to retain their place in the top six when they host bottom side Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Tigers are only three points ahead of seventh placed Wrexham, with a poorer goal difference than the Red Dragons and sixth placed Southampton.

The side are currently in the worst form of the three teams too, having lost three of their past four league matches (W1), but relegated Wednesday have only managed to bag one point from their past 15 Championship games.

• Hull lost this exact fixture against Sheffield Wednesday last season (0-2 in November 2024), while only once previously have they lost consecutive home league matches versus the Owls (April 2005).

• Since winning 2-0 at Hull last season, Sheffield Wednesday have gone winless in all six of their Championship matches against sides from Yorkshire and the Humber, losing five of them (D1).

• Hull have lost three of their last four Championship matches (W1), as many defeats as they had suffered in their previous 15 combined (W10 D2 L3).

• Sheffield Wednesday are winless in their last 32 league matches (D8 L24); the longest streak without a win by any side in England's top four tiers since Macclesfield, in a run ending in October 2018 (36).

• Oli McBurnie has netted 13 goals for Hull in the Championship this season; only once has he scored more in a single league campaign in his career (22 for Swansea in 2018-19).

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There have been plenty of contentious decisions in the 2025-26 Championship season so far.

Offside goals given, perfectly good goals ruled out, red card offences missed, penalties not given, dubious spot-kicks awarded. You name it.

With the video assistant referee (VAR) only used for the play-off final, the outcome of every second-tier game in the regular season can hinge on how on-field officials see incidents in real time.

• Would you want VAR introduced for every league game in the Championship?

• If so, why?

• And if not, let us know your reasons.

You can share your thoughts on VAR here or comment below, and we will publish a follow-up article soon with a selection of your responses.

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Hartlepool United have extended the loan of Calvin Okike until the end of the season.

The 18-year-old defender joined last month from Hull City and has made three appearances for Pools, scoring on debut in their 3-1 win over Carlisle United.

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic spoke to BBC Radio Humberside after his side's 3-0 defeat at West Brom.

"I knew that they had quality and they are fighting relegation. They brought a lot of energy to the pitch and this is the reason we lost today," he said.

"I think it's about energy and courage when you have the ball. They were better today.

"Also we had a lack of concentration. On the first goal Ivor must kick the ball longer and the red card came from nothing, it was bad from Charlie. It's football, it can happen.

(On Lewie Coyle injury) "I'm not optimistic because he has a protective boot on. We'll see after an examination what the damage is. He got kicked on the same ankle he already had a problem on."

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Hull City midfielder Eliot Matazo may not play again this season after picking up a quad injury to derail his recovery from knee surgery, boss Sergej Jakirovic has confirmed.

The Belgian faces a further "three or four weeks" on the sidelines after being withdrawn from an Under-21's game, having already been absent from the squad for over a year because of his knee ligament injury.

"Our target is that he's completely ready for pre-season," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We will see. If there is any chance to play, we can do that but first of all, he must be healthy."

Striker Oli McBurnie and midfielder Amir Hadziahmetovic have recovered from the illness that kept them out of the 2-1 win at Wrexham and will be available for the game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Right-back Lewie Coyle will also be fit for the trip to the Hawthorns, but winger Mohamed Belloumi is unlikely to start after playing his first minutes since December in north Wales.

"We will try to increase his minutes in the next game," Jakirovic added.

"It's very important that he stays healthy. We will see, I can't predict the future."

Midfielder Darko Gyabi is expected to return to training next week but is still "far away" from playing in the Championship.

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

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West Bromwich Albion and Hull City will be searching for points to strengthen their positions at opposing ends of the table when they meet at the Hawthorns on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Baggies currently find themselves in 23rd place on the table but just one point away from safety to give them a hope of exiting the bottom three with a home win.

The Tigers, meanwhile, are comfy in the play-off positions, sitting nine points above seventh placed Southampton but also only six adrift of second placed Middlesbrough as things stand.

• West Brom are unbeaten in their last nine home league games against Hull (W7 D2) since losing 3-0 in October 2008 in the Premier League.

• Hull City are looking to complete their first league double over West Brom since the 1909-10 season.

• Since 2016-17, James Morrison will be the eighth different West Brom manager in eight home league games against Hull (after Pulis, Shan, Bilic, Ismael, Bruce, Corberan and Mowbray).

• Hull City have won 10 of their last 14 league matches when starting the day 20+ points ahead of their opponents in the table (D2 L2).

• Hull's Oli McBurnie has scored three goals in six Championship appearances against West Bromwich Albion, including the winner at the MKM Stadium earlier this season.

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Hull City's goal hero Lewis Koumas says it was important for them to bounce back after successive defeats against promotion rivals Ipswich and Millwall.

The 20-year-old Liverpool loanee scored the winner as the Tigers won 2-1 at sixth placed Wrexham.

Hull are fifth in the table, with a nine-point cushion to seventh, and six points behind second-placed Middlesbrough ahead of Boro's home game with Charlton on Wednesday.

"We really needed that," Koumas told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I think we should have won the game against Millwall, we had a lot of chances, but that's football, that's the Championship, and we've bounced back.

"All the lads inside the dressing room and around the place know how good every individual is, and what they can bring, and what the team can bring."

Koumas has now scored three goals in 10 matches since joining on loan in the January transfer window.

"It's always a great feeling to have any impact on a game, so to do it a few times now is just a great feeling to help the team and get three points," he added.

"I'm loving my time here, just developing. I'm not too fussed starting, or coming on. I'm just loving doing the best job for Hull City."

The former Liverpool academy graduate spent the 2024-2025 season on loan at Stoke and began this campaign at Birmingham.

"When you're happy at a place, it kicks you on even more. I just want to do well for all the people supporting you and watching on, so I'm definitely a hard worker, and I love defending," he said.

"Being happy at a place is really important, in your surroundings and with the people around you. It has a big impact on confidence."

After stumbling against their promotion rivals recently, Hull City's next three games are against the current bottom three teams - West Brom, Sheffield Wednesday and Oxford United.

"We won't be treating any side differently," he said.

"We're going in with the exact same mentality every game, and that's to win and put a shift in."

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic stressed how important the three points were to his team after their 2-1 win at Wrexham.

The Tigers returned to winning ways following back-to-back defeats against Ipswich and Millwall to boost their play-off hopes.

Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside: "We played a very good game. It's a very important three points and a very big victory against Wrexham, who are a very good team.

"They have already shown all season they are playing good football, especially at home. They are very dangerous.

"Credit to the lads because I think they played a very good game."

Hull City will have forward Mohamed Belloumi in their squad for Tuesday's Championship match at promotion rivals Wrexham.

The 23-year-old has not played since sustaining a hamstring injury in the Tigers Boxing Day draw at Sheffield Wednesday but assistant boss Dean Holden is relieved to have him back available.

"He's a top player and we've not had him fit enough for long enough this season," Holden told BBC Radio Humberside.

"He's been out since Boxing Day and not had a great deal of training so we'll need to be careful in terms of minutes [we give him] but he's worked really hard in his rehabilitation and has been wanting to get involved."

Fifth-placed Hull suffered a second successive league defeat when beaten 3-1 at home by Millwall on Saturday and are now only three points above Wrexham who are sixth.

"We're getting to the stage of the season where there probably have to be some risks taken but equally we need to mitigate the risk int terms of minutes [for Belloumi], but it's a huge bonus to have him back around it," added Holden.

"He's looked good in training and certainly if we need him he'll be there."

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It's a big game in the Championship play-off race as Wrexham return to league action after their FA Cup exploits to host Hull City on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

Hours before the Red Dragons took Chelsea to extra-time before exiting the FA Cup in the fifth round on Saturday, the Tigers were a touch unfortunate to go down 3-1 at home to Millwall in another top-six battle.

It means City are fifth, three points ahead of Wrexham, who now have a game in hand, with seventh-placed Derby leading the play-off chasing pack a further three points adrift.

A home win would see Wrexham into the top-five for the first time this season and a win for either team could apply pressure to fourth-placed Ipswich, who visit Stoke the same evening.

• Wrexham are unbeaten in their past 10 home league games against Hull (W7 D3), with this the first time they're hosting the Tigers since a 2-2 draw in League One in October 2004.

• Following their 2-0 win in December, Hull are looking to complete the league double over Wrexham for the first time since 1948-49.

• Wrexham have won nine of their past 13 league games (D2 L2), though both defeats in that run came in home games.

• Hull City have lost just one of their past nine away league games (W7 D1), though it did come at Ipswich Town last time out on the road.

• Wrexham's Josh Windass has scored three goals in his seven league appearances against Hull. His sides have won all three games in which he scored, but lost all four in which he didn't.