Hull City

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Sheffield Wednesday will aim to finish a difficult year at Hillsborough on a high as they entertain in-form Hull City on Friday (15:00 GMT).

The Owls' only win came on the road in September and they have not kept a clean sheet at home since December 2024.

They have picked up just two points from 11 games at Hillsborough this season to remain rock-bottom on -9 points, effectively 31 short of safety with 25 games remaining, such is their inferior goal difference.

The Tigers have won their past three games to climb to fourth, five points adrift of the automatic promotion places and with a three point lead over the play-off chasing pack.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won two of their past three league games against Hull (L1), as many as they had in their previous 12 (D4 L6).

• Hull won this exact fixture 1-0 last season but have never won consecutive away league games against Sheffield Wednesday before.

• Having won five consecutive Boxing Day league games between 2014 and 2018, Sheffield Wednesday have won just one of their past five (D2 L2). This is their first such game at home since a 3-0 win against Birmingham in 2015.

• Hull have won just one of their past seven Boxing Day league games (D2 L4), beating Preston 2-1 at Deepdale in 2018.

• Sheffield Wednesday haven't kept a single home league clean sheet in 2025 and have shipped 40 goals at Hillsborough this calendar year – only in 1957 have they conceded more in a year (42).

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Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic said described his side's 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion as a "three big points".

The Tigers stayed firmly in touch with the play-off contenders with their third victory in a row to move up to fourth in the Championship, level on points with Ipswich Town and five adrift of Middlesbrough in the second automatic promotion spot.

"It was typical [of the Championship] because there were a thousand balls in the air and two thousand challenges. We struggled for the second ball, in the first half especially, he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We started well but lost our balance and West Brom were better - they had two great situations to score a goal and then gave us a penalty.

"We controlled the second half much better and had a few good chances, but kept a clean sheet which is very important and got three big points. The red card also helped a lot, for sure.

Jakirovic also have his view on the sending off of Baggies' defender Alfie Gilchrist who was shown a red card after challenging Liam Millar with 15 minutes left.

"It was very harsh. I was a little bit surprised, because I was thinking it was a yellow card, but he pulled out a red."

West Bromwich Albion head coach Ryan Mason says he returns to Hull City on Saturday with "mixed emotions" as he reflects on the moment that ended his playing career nearly 10 years ago.

Mason suffered a fractured skull in a clash of heads with Chelsea's Gary Cahill during a Premier League match in January 2017 and, after major surgery, was forced to retired just over a year later at the age of only 25.

Now he is going back to the place where it happened in charge of a side for the first time and told BBC Radio WM it would be an emotional experience.

"There were some fond memories there even though it didn't end how I wanted it to, so I look back on it with mixed emotions," he said.

"The club were amazing. The doctor Mark Waller, he had a crucial part in saving my life. I still speak to him.

"The owners at the time were incredible. They gave me the time and opportunity to come back and play."

Despite a lot changing at Hull in the nine years since his injury, Mason said there would always be a bond with the club.

"It's been a long time - I retired at 25 - it's coming up to 10 years, they have a different owner, different manager and players," he added.

"I had an incident when I was representing that club so there will always be a connection with Hull.

"It's a painful period to look back on. I lost my career but my son was born in Hull on 20 December.

"It's made me a better person and made people around me better as well."

For the immediate future, Mason is now fully focused on putting any sentiment aside as he tries to engineer a first away win in the Championship since the start of October and prevent the current five-point gap to the play-off places getting any wider.

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Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic says that striker Oli McBurnie is ready to join the starting XI, but his selection will depend on tactics.

The former Scotland international started nine of the Tigers' opening 10 Championship games before missing the next eight with a calf injury and has been slowly making his comeback from the bench in the past two games.

However, fellow forward Kyle Joseph has found his form, scoring three goals across those matches to give Jakirovic a selection headache up front.

"He's [McBurnie] in good shape and everything is good," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It's tactical issues so we will see, we will play with him or with Kyle."

McBurnie and Joseph have previously started games together and the Bosnian says that the return of forward Enis Destan may increase the chances of seeing the duo both in the starting line-up.

Destan is expected to make the squad for Saturday's game with West Brom (15:00 GMT) after his return to training following a two-game absence with a leg injury.

"It's a possibility," Jakirovic added.

"They can play together, especially now that we have Enis now, so we will see."

Meanwhile, the head coach "will see" whether midfielder Kasey Palmer is ready to return after missing two months with a knee problem.

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

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

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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.

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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."

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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

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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.

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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).

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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."

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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.

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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.