With the opportunity to climb into the top six of the Championship standings, Hull City will do battle with an out-of-form Cardiff City side at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers produced a gritty performance at Middlesbrough to snatch all three points in the week, while a lacklustre display from the Bluebirds against Birmingham City led to defeat.
Match preview
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Back-to-back defeats against Watford and Marti Cifuentes's Queens Park Rangers at the start of December meant that Hull City had suffered successive losses for the first time under the stewardship of Liam Rosenior, and that losing streak looked set to extend to three matches when Emmanuel Latte Lath put Middlesbrough ahead on Wednesday after six minutes.
The visiting Tigers had to weather a Teesside storm for the duration of the first half as Boro dominated at the Riverside, but City were able to complete a terrific comeback in the second period, with Liam Delap and substitute Ozan Tufan breaching the net of goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
Hull stopper Ryan Allsop was swarmed by his delighted teammates at the full-time whistle following a number of key saves to deny Michael Carrick's men a last-gasp equaliser, with the three points earned moving Rosenior's side into seventh, only behind sixth-placed Sunderland on goal difference.
A sixth goal of the Championship campaign for Manchester City loanee Delap moved him level with standout performer Jaden Philogene in the club's Golden Boot race, with the son of Stoke City legend Rory Delap enjoying a productive season in the second tier following uninspiring loan spells at the Potters and Preston North End.
Following two bottom-half finishes since returning to the Championship as League One winners in 2021, Hull are targeting a playoff push under the stoic leadership of Rosenior this term, with the Humberside club linked with a January move for Ryan Kent to provide even more firepower for a top-six assault.
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Cardiff City have suffered three defeats in their last four Championship matches following a limp performance against Birmingham City in South Wales on Wednesday night, when Juninho Bacuna bagged the only goal of the contest to hand Wayne Rooney his maiden away success as Blues head coach.
Erol Bulut was left seething by his side's attacking display at the Cardiff City Stadium, stating that members of the team were playing as individuals rather than collectively, which is probably a good summary of the Bluebirds' form considering that they have netted just one goal in the most recent quartet of games.
Despite winning only two of their last seven second-tier encounters, Cardiff remain within striking distance of the top-six scene, sitting 10th in the league standings with 30 points from 21 matches, meaning they will leapfrog Hull with a victory at The MKM Stadium on Saturday.
While Tigers keeper Allsop was heralded for his display at Boro, Bluebirds stopper Alex Runarsson was the recipient of further criticism after Birmingham's Bacuna cheekily lifted the ball over the 28-year-old for the visitors' goal last time out, meaning Bulut has a decision to make of whether to recall Jak Alnwick for the weekend.
Cardiff have severely missed the goalscoring abilities of Aaron Ramsey since he suffered a knee injury earlier in the campaign, and leading marksman Ike Ugbo is currently struggling to cement a place in the XI after netting just once in his last 15 Championship appearances.
Team News
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Hull City were dealt a major injury blow during the defeat at Queens Park Rangers on December 9, as former Aston Villa attacker Philogene picked up a knee issue which is set to keep him sidelined for the entirety of the festive schedule.
The prolonged absence of the six-goal winger will lead to more match minutes for the likes of Aaron Connolly and Turkey's Tufan, who is still returning to full fitness following injury.
Better news for the Tigers arrives in the form of Jason Eyenga-Lokilo, who missed the clashes with QPR and Boro, but the summer arrival from Sparta Rotterdam could be involved on Saturday.
Cardiff midfielder and Wales legend Ramsey has spoken to the media recently for the first time since collecting a knee injury, revealing that he is targeting a return in the New Year.
Perry Ng is a doubt for the weekend's trip to the MKM Stadium after he was forced off inside 15 minutes on Wednesday due to a head injury, meaning Mahlon Romeo is set to start at right-back.
After missing the Blues clash because of a minor knock, Joe Ralls is expected to return to the matchday squad on Saturday, potentially replacing Ryan Wintle in the visitors' engine room.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Allsop; Christie, Jones, Greaves, Coyle; Morton, Docherty, Traore, Tufan, Twine; Delap
Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Runarsson; Mahlon, Goutas, McGuinness, Collins; Siopis, Ralls; Bowler, Robinson, Grant, Ugbo
We say: Hull City 2-0 Cardiff City
Hull will be full of confidence after completing a comeback at the Riverside last time out, so the home supporters at the MKM will be demanding maximum points once again.
Cardiff were devoid of ideas in an attacking sense against Birmingham, and we expect the Bluebirds to struggle to deal with the Tigers on Saturday afternoon.
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Top tip
Carter White
