Hull City

Hull City will look to retain their place in the top six when they welcome West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Tigers have found a rich vein of form to land them in sixth place but are only clear by one point.

Though the Baggies are trying to stabilise after a topsy-turvy season and will be seeking their first back-to-back wins since August.

• Hull have won just one of their last 11 league games against West Bromwich Albion (D2 L8), a 2-0 home win in March 2023.

• After losing four consecutive away league games against Hull between 1974 and 1987, West Brom have lost just four of their last 17 visits (W8 D5).

• Since the start of October, only league leaders Coventry (34) have won more points and won more games (11) than Hull in the Championship (25 points, 8 wins).

• Following their win against Sheffield United, West Brom will be aiming for consecutive Championship victories for just the second time under Ryan Mason. The previous instance came in their opening two matches of the 2025-26 league campaign (1-0 v Blackburn and 3-2 v Wrexham).

• Since the start of October, only Southampton's Adam Armstrong (9) has netted more Championship goals than Hull's Joe Gelhardt (8). However, no player has scored in more different matches than Gelhardt (8) in the division in this period.

"Massive credit to two clubs who certainly I didn't have on the list of being in the top six come the end of this season, making a really good go of it.

"It has just epitomised the league. There's just an openness to it and some of those clubs we didn't expect to see there, it's just great.

"It keeps it interesting, it's still wide open for those play-off places."

What's making Preston North End and Hull City surprise play-off contenders in the Championship?

The 72+ team are joined by new Bristol Rovers boss Steve Evans and Barnsley boxer Callum Simpson to dissect the surprise successes in the Championship so far, plus how the Tykes are faring in League One and how Evans feels about replacing pal Darrell Clarke at the Gas in League Two.

Listen to the full episode of 72+ on BBC Sounds.

Kyle Joseph hopes his new relaxed approach in front of goal will give Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic a headache going forward.

The 24-year-old former Blackpool man doubled his goal tally for the season in the space of four days with the opener in the 2-0 midweek win over Wrexham before two early goals in Saturday's 3-1 victory at Millwall - the team his dad supports.

After ending a seven-match scoreless streak against Wrexham, Joseph told BBC Radio Humberside: "The last couple of games I've probably stopped worrying.

"I can't control what people's opinions of me are, all I can control is what I can do on the pitch.

"Being in the moment and staying in the zone has really helped me, I want to continue with that, taking it a game at a time."

The six points have taken the Tigers back into the Championship play-off positions and Joseph said: "It's a special win as [Millwall] have been flying.

"You can see the togetherness of the squad. It's a special group. Everyone is buying into it, pulling in the same direction, from top to bottom.

"It's so important to have than unity and togetherness. There's a really good feeling in the camp."

Joseph said a conversation with team-mate Oli McBurnie the day before the Millwall game had helped him.

"To have a player like Oli to learn off, there's so much I can squeeze out of him," he said.

"He's played La Liga, Championship and Premier League, he's been down there in the lower leagues too. He gives me ideas and solutions, I find that invaluable and it helps my game so much. He's an unbelievable player and human being."

With McBurnie scoring in his two appearances off the bench after injury, Jakirovic has a dilemma up front, and Joseph added: "All I can do is try to be in the manager's mind.

"I'll never kick my toys out of the pram for not being in the team, I want to play but if I don't, I don't sulk, I am a good teammate on the bench.

"I want to give the manager a headache and show I am ready to play."

Sam Ashoo
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, PA Media

Hull fans were delighted to see Liam Millar named in the starting XI for the trip to Millwall and it quickly became clear why.

The winger caused problems all afternoon, finding space down the left and providing a perfect assist for Kyle Joseph's second goal.

However, Millar, who was already on a yellow card, was fortunate to stay on the pitch after kicking the ball away when a free-kick was awarded against him in the second half.

The referee gave the Canadian the benefit of the doubt, perhaps assuming he hadn't heard the whistle, though that felt generous.

His substitution a few minutes later was met, unsurprisingly, by loud boos from the home fans.

Regardless, if Hull are to mount a promotion push this season, Millar could and possibly should be a key part of it.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic says striker Kyle Joseph "deserves everything" after he scored twice in the Tigers' 3-1 win at Millwall.

Joseph's brace came inside the first 15 minutes with Oli McBurnie adding a third after Aidomo Emakhu pulled a goal back for the hosts, who also had Femi Azeez sent off.

"Kyle is a hardworking player on the wing and up front," the Hull boss told BBC Radio Humberside.

"He is always playing for the team and the team likes him. You can see in every game that he tries to fulfil our expectation.

"He deserves everything."

Jakirovic said his side's control of set pieces was key to the win, which lifts Hull into the Championship top six.

"I'm very pleased with what I saw today. We had a slow start in the game, but when we started to win second balls and became dangerous in transition, we scored two great goals.

"It was key that we had control of set pieces, because they are a very tall team. I was pushing for a third goal at half time because at 1-0 or 2-0, if you concede the crowd can explode.

"We conceded when we had an extra man; when Oli scored the third, it was done. As a team, we were very, very good today."

Image source, EFL

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard has won his second successive Championship manager of the month award.

The Sky Blues boss oversaw maximum points with five successive wins in November with his side currently five points clear at the top of the table.

Lampard said: "We got some fantastic results throughout November and I would like to thank all the players, staff and everyone involved for their continued hard work.

"We have a great togetherness and team spirit here and we're all looking forward to the busy Christmas period and continuing our hard work."

Birmingham's Chris Davies, Tonda Eckert of Southampton and Derby boss John Eustace were also nominated for the award.

Coventry at the double again

Image source, Getty Images

Once again Coventry have cause for a double celebration with striker Ellis Simms being named the player of the month, following hot on the heels of team-mate Brandon Thomas-Asante claiming the award in October.

The 24-year-old scored five goals in his three starts in November including a brace in each of the victories over Middlesbrough and Charlton, taking his tally to eight in all competitions so far this season.

"This was only possible because of my team-mates and the staff pushing standards every day," said Simms.

"Individual awards come from team performances, and the results we've had make this extra special.

"I'll take the confidence from it and keep giving everything for the club and the fans."

Simms beat strikers Carlton Morris (Derby) and Joe Gelhardt (Hull City) plus Birmingham full-back Alex Cochrane to the award.

Image source, Opta

Two sides with play-off aspirations go head-to-head at The Den on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Millwall go into this game sitting third in the Championship table but missed out on the chance to close the gap on the top two after Wednesday's draw at Derby ended a three-match winning streak.

Hull City moved into the play-off positions with an impressive victory that ended Wrexham's nine-game unbeaten run in the league.

The Tigers will be well aware victory over the Lions will be significant in closing the gap on their opponents with four points separating the two sides.

• Millwall have won none of their last six league games against Hull (D3 L3), failing to score in five of those games.

• Hull won their last league game against Millwall but there has not been back-to-back wins by a team in this fixture since Hull won both games in 2012-13 – this is the 15th meeting since then.

• Millwall have won 11 of their last 15 home league matches (D1 L3), including five of their last six since a 4-0 defeat to Coventry in October.

• Hull have scored 15 goals in nine away Championship games this season, their best goals-per-game average (1.67) on the road in a season in the top two tiers of English football ever.

• Femi Azeez has scored in each of his last five home league matches for Millwall, the best run by a Lions player since Steve Morison between April and August 2010 (also five, including play-offs).

Image source, Shutterstock

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic was thrilled with his side's response to their heavy home defeat by Middlesbrough as they produced a fine win over Wrexham.

Five days after conceding four first-half goals in losing to Boro, the Tigers defeated the Welsh side to climb back into the Championship's top six.

It was a first defeat for Wrexham in 10 games as Hull collected a first clean sheet since 1 November, leaving Bosnian Jakirovic delighted.

"We had a very good meeting after Middlesbrough, and our analysis was very good," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"Then today, I wanted to see a reaction and I think our reaction was very, very good."

Goals from Kyle Joseph and Oli McBurnie secured the points, while goalkeeper Ivor Pandur saved Kieffer Moore's penalty.

"The lads were fantastic," said Jakirovic. "They put a lot of intensity and energy into the duels from the first second of this game because we were dominant.

"We controlled everything in this game except for one chance for Kieffer Moore and the penalty.

"But OK, I'm happy for Ivor's clean sheet, it's important for our confidence. But when you are like this from the first second, football gives back to you."

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City's leading goalscorer Joe Gelhardt is a doubt for the Championship encounter with Wrexham on Wednesday (20:00 GMT).

The 23-year-old, who is on loan from Leeds United, has scored 10 goals and registered two assists in 19 games in the league so far this season.

Assistant head coach Dean Holden said there is an "injury concern" over Gelhardt in the pre-match press conference.

"He just felt something in his calf. He didn't train [on Monday]. We're just waiting on some more information in terms of scan results," Holden told BBC Radio Humberside.

Holden said they will have to wait and see if Gelhardt is fit to play and keep "fingers crossed".

"In terms of the numbers he's produced this season, I think he's gone a little bit under the radar in terms of his work-rate and everything he does for the team," Holden said.

"But his goals and assists stand up against most players in that position. So if he's not going to be with us, it'll be a huge miss for us.

"It will be up to somebody else in the squad or the group of guys to stake a claim for their place in the team. Hopefully someone can step up and see us through that period."

Hull have also been without second top goalscorer Oli McBurnie, who missed eight games after picking up a calf injury at Birmingham on 18 October.

But the six-goal striker has been back in training and was among the substitutes for the 4-1 defeat by Middlesbrough on Friday.

Holden added: "We expect him to get some minutes [against Wrexham]."

Listen to Hull City assistant head coach Dean Holden's full pre-match press conference ahead of the Wrexham game on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

The FA Cup third round draw was made on Monday evening, with all 24 Championship clubs entering at this stage of the competition.

Ties will take place between Thursday, 8 January and Monday, 12 January.

These are the ties involving Championship clubs:

• Cambridge United v Birmingham City

• Hull City v Blackburn Rovers

• Bristol City v Watford

• Charlton Athletic v Chelsea

• Stoke City v Coventry

• Derby County v Leeds United

• Ipswich Town v Blackpool

• Cheltenham Town v Leicester City

• Fulham v Middlesbrough

• Burnley v Millwall

• Norwich City v Walsall

• MK Dons v Oxford United

• Portsmouth v Arsenal

• Preston North End v Wigan Athletic

• West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers

• Sheffield United v Mansfield Town

• Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford

• Doncaster Rovers v Southampton

• Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion

• Wrexham v Nottingham Forest

You can see the full draw here.

Hull City will hope to get their play-off quest back on track when they welcome Wrexham on Wednesday night (20:00 GMT).

The Tigers have won just two of their past six games (L4) and were well beaten in the 4-1 loss at home to Middlesbrough last time out.

The Red Dragons have adapted well to life in the Championship after three back-to-back promotions and are unbeaten in their past nine games (W4 D5).

Victory for Wrexham at the MKM Stadium would see them leapfrog Hull and keep them firmly in the mix for a top six challenge.

• This is the first league meeting between Hull City and Wrexham since February 2005, and a 2-1 win for the Tigers under Peter Taylor in League One.

• This is also the first league meeting between Hull and Wrexham in the second tier or higher, with their previous 38 meetings coming in either the third (36) or fourth (2) tier of English football.

• Hull have won just two of their past 13 league games against promoted sides (D6 L5), though one of those was a 3-2 victory against Birmingham City this season.

• Hull have lost 10 of their past 15 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) Championship games (W3 D2), though all five where they've avoided defeat have been at home.

• Wrexham have conceded just one goal in their four midweek (Tues, Weds, Thurs) Championship games this season (W2 D2), keeping a clean sheet in each of the past three.

New Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg claimed a win to kick-off his time at the Riverside but can he follow it up on the road against a tough Hull City side on Friday (20:00 GMT)?

Boro claimed a 2-1 victory over Derby to put themselves back in the automatic promotion spots but with Millwall, Stoke and Preston North End all looming behind them, they will need a point to ensure they stay there this weekend.

Victory may not come easy though, as opponents Hull seek a place in the top six and their first back-to-back wins since October.

• Hull have won just one of their last six league games against Middlesbrough (D1 L4), a 2-1 away win in December 2023.

• Following a 1-0 win in this exact fixture last season, Middlesbrough are looking to win consecutive away league games against Hull for the first time.

• Hull City have won six of their past 10 league games (D1 L3), with only league leaders Coventry City winning more since the start of October (10).

• Having won their first two Championship away games this season, Middlesbrough have since won just one of their last seven on the road (D4 L2).

• Joe Gelhardt has been involved in nine goals in his last nine Championship appearances (7 goals, 2 assists), netting the winning goal in all five of Hull City's victories in that run.

Hull City defender Charlie Hughes will be available for the Tigers' game against Middlesbrough on Friday (20:00 GMT) after injury concerns meant he was an unused substitute during their win against Stoke last weekend.

"Our decision [to keep Hughes on the bench] was very good before Stoke because the MRI showed that there is something," Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"If I took a risk to put Charlie in, maybe he could get [an] injury so that was a good decision and he'll be ready for Middlesbrough."

Forward Liam Millar is training with the group but Jakirovic has not yet made a decision on whether to include him in the squad as he looks to be "careful" about reintegrating players after injury.

Striker Oli McBurnie is also "good" and in training but not set to feature until Wednesday when the Tigers host Wrexham, while defender Cody Drameh's injury is "not serious" and he will return to training on Monday.

Left-back Brandon Williams is awaiting an MRI scan on his calf however the 25-year-old may be running out of opportunities to feature for Hull.

Williams has struggled for fitness of late, playing just one Championship game this season as well as two further appearances with the under-21's in the Premier League Cup - but Jakirovic isn't sure if the defender will remain with the squad come February.

"We will decide what do with him in January, whether he will stay with us and fight for his place or he will continue forward," the Bosnian said.

"In those games [he played this season] he showed something, but I don't know if this is enough for the Championship. This is something I need to decide."

Listen to the full interview with Sergej Jakirovic and more Hull City content on BBC Sounds.

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Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic praised his players for their second-half response at Stoke as they battled back to win in the 90th minute.

Joe Gelhardt scored the winner for the Tigers and Jakirovic was delighted with his side's spirit after they trailed 1-0 following a dismal first 45 minutes.

He told BBC Radio Humberside: "I'm very satisfied, especially after the second half when we played very well.

"The first half was not satisfying at all because we didn't play well, they were much better than us. I said to the players, if we continue like this, we can go home immediately. But what I like most about this team is that they can change everything.

"With the two substitutions at half-time, our reaction was very good. Also we started to run and fight for every ball. We equalised early and that gave us more confidence, more power, strength and energy.

"At the end, we stole a goal. It was a great counter-attack and Joffy [Joe Gelhardt] scored and I'm very happy because it was an important victory."

Hull City captain Lewie Coyle says he would love to play 500 games for the Tigers, having just reached 200 appearances in Tuesday's defeat to Ipswich Town.

Coyle, 30, joined Hull from Fleetwood Town in 2020 and has become a key part of the first team, playing at least 40 Championship games in each of the past three full seasons.

"To go on and make 200 appearances for my hometown club - a place that means so much to me and my family - it's something I'm very proud of," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It's a lovely number, I'd love to certainly get over the 500 mark. I've still got many years left ahead of me, I feel in a good spot."

While at Hull, Coyle has overseen the club winning the League One title in 2021, missing out on the Championship play-offs by one place in 2024, and narrowly escaping relegation on goal difference last season.

"I didn't really play loads in that first year. I found it tough to get going. When I finally did get in, I felt like I kicked on," he added.

"You then create memories for life with good friends, good people.

"Being from Hull, playing for Hull, that sometimes comes with its challenges. [You're] susceptible to a lot more questions, a lot more scrutiny, which is fine.

"I knew that when I signed. But there's so many good people around the football club and the city of Hull that have been fantastic with me."

Stoke City will look to maintain their position in the automatic promotion spots as they host a bruised but promotion-contending Hull City on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Potters currently sit in second place after a 3-0 victory over Charlton ended a two-match losing streak.

But the Tigers will have plenty of motivation for a win of their own after two straight losses puts them outside the top 10 but still just two points adrift of the top six.

• The home side has failed to win any of the last seven league meetings between Stoke City and Hull City (D1 L6), since the Potters won 2-0 in September 2021.

• Hull City have won their last two away league games against Stoke, as many as they had in their previous 18 visits to the Potters (D7 L9).

• Stoke have won five of their last eight league games (L3), one more win than their previous 12 matches in the Championship (W4 D4 L4).

• Hull have lost three of their last four league games (W1), as many as in their opening 13 games of the 2025-26 season (W6 D4 L3).

• Since the start of 2021-22, Stoke's Sorba Thomas has both the most assists (34) and chances created (323) in the Championship, while last time out against Charlton Athletic was the second time in a Football League game he recorded three goal involvements (2 goals, 1 assist) after August 2021 v Reading.

Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic bemoaned the way his side conceded the opening goal in Tuesday's 2-0 Championship defeat by Ipswich Town.

Marcelino Nunez and Chuba Akpom struck in quick succession for the visitors in the second half after Hull squandered multiple chances to score in the opening period.

Nunez was able to drift in between the Tigers' defence to nod home Jaden Philogene's looping cross.

"I can split this game in two parts - until 70 minutes we were almost perfect because we controlled everything, even though Ipswich, in this league, maybe have the best possession," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"In the first half they didn't have any shots towards our goal, so this was good. But on 70 minutes it was a crucial moment for me because we made one mistake which they immediately punished, but this was the quality of Ipswich.

"We tried to take more risks but unfortunately we immediately conceded a second goal.

"The first was a very poor goal because we had a full defence, the cross was not so sharp that you cannot defend it. If it is not a goal, maybe it would have stayed 0-0 or we would have scored a late goal."

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City assistant head coach Dean Holden has heaped praise on in-form Joe Gelhardt and says the on-loan Leeds United forward is hungry for more goals during the hectic winter schedule.

Hull host Ipswich Town on Tuesday, the first of eight league matches between now and the turn of the year.

Gelhardt scored the opening goal at Loftus Road in Hull's 3-2 Championship defeat by QPR on Saturday, his eighth goal of the season and his sixth in his past seven appearances.

Only Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante and Derby's Carlton Morris have scored more in the division this season, and Gelhardt has also chipped in with two league assists.

"He's a very versatile player and adds huge value," Holden said.

"He's in good form in terms of his goalscoring at the moment - when he goes through on that angle on the right-hand side, there's only one outcome and he's putting the ball in the back of the net regularly.

"He's training well and champing at the bit."

City are still without John Lundstram and Oli McBurnie through injury for Ipswich's visit, while Matt Crooks is suspended.