Hull City bounced back from three league matches without a win in the Championship last time out when they recorded a much needed 2-1 home win against relegation threatened Millwall at their KCOM Stadium during the week, and they return to home turf for this Saturday’s clash against Birmingham City.
Before their midweek win over Millwall, Hull had stumbled to defeats away from home against Derby County 2-0 and a heavy 5-1 thumping at Brentford, while also being held to a slightly disappointing 2-2 draw at home with Rotherham United.
Hull’s form at home though has certainly continued in impressive fashion as Nigel Adkins’ side are now unbeaten in their last eight matches in the second tier, which includes six wins; Brentford, Swansea City, Bolton Wanderers, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City and Millwall.
The Tigers possess some key attacking threats too in the shape of midfielder Irvine (5 goals) along with forwards Bowen (16 goals), Campbell (11 goals) and Grosicki (5 goals), so the hosts will be in confident mood as they prepare for the visit of Birmingham City who are equally in a positive frame of mind having recorded a great away win during the week.
Onto Birmingham City then, and the visitors face a second away match on the trot when they make their way up to Humberside for this Saturday’s clash with Hull City, but having beaten play-off candidates and in-form Bristol City during the week, this trip shouldn’t faze them too much.
Birmingham ran out 2-1 winners at Ashton Gate against a Bristol City outfit who had recently strung together a seven-match winning streak and had won their previous four home matches on the trot.
No mean feat then for Garry Monk’s side who have lost just once in their last six matches overall in the Championship as well as claiming back-to-back wins on their travels in recent weeks with a 4-3 win at QPR and the aforementioned Bristol City victory.
Birmingham have suffered just one defeat out of their last eight matches away from home too, which was a 3-1 loss at Championship leaders, Norwich City, but the visitors are very capable of scoring (and conceding) goals away from home as six of these last eight away matches have seen both teams score.
The obvious goal threats from the visitors come in the shape of forwards Adams (21 goals) and Jutkiewicz (10 goals) along with midfielder Maghoma and the aerial threat from set-pieces of defender Morrison (5 goals apiece).
These two sides seem fairly evenly matched and both teams should score in this encounter.