Hull City

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Ipswich Town travel to Hull City on Tuesday (19:45) in a bid for another successful away trip.

The Tractor Boys have won both their past two away games emphatically and will hope another big victory on the road will be enough to see them in the play-off places, potentially ousting their opponents.

But the Tigers have picked up more than double the points at home (17) than they have away from the MKM Stadium (8), losing just once on their own soil this season.

• After a 13-game unbeaten league run against Ipswich between 2010 and 2020 (W10 D3), Hull have now lost two of their last three against the Tractor Boys (D1).

• Ipswich have won just two of their 20 away league games against Hull (D7 L11), winning 5-2 in March 2007 and 1-0 in February 2021.

• Hull are unbeaten in their last six home league games (W4 D2), their longest since a nine game run between April and September 2023.

• Ipswich have won their last two away league games, beating both QPR and Swansea 4-1. They last won three in a row in March 2024, while they've never scored 4+ goals in three consecutively before.

• Joe Gelhardt has scored in each of his last three home league games. The last Hull player to score in more consecutively was Jarrod Bowen, who did eight in a row between December 2018 and March 2019.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City left-back Ryan Giles believes it's not just his fellow defenders who are to blame following the Tigers' 3-2 loss at Queen's Park Rangers.

The Humberside club failed to hold on to leads twice during the match at 0-1 and 1-2 up, their goals thanks to Joe Gelhardt and Enis Destan.

Equalisers from Rangers' Ilias Chair, Jimmy Dunne succeeded by a winner courtesy of Rumarn Burrell in the second half however registered Hull their fifth defeat of the season.

"Obviously I'm really disappointed," said Giles to BBC Radio Humberside.

"I felt like we started really well but at times it can be a theme where we go in front and then concede a sloppy goal, and that was the case today.

"There are things leading up to it — it's not just the back four. Chas [Charlie Hughes] is putting his body on the line to try and stop it, and they get a lucky deflection that goes in.

"We've got to look back and see how we can stop the opposition having so many opportunities at our goal."

If you're wondering where your team is going to finish in the Championship this season, you no longer need to worry.

Well, kind of.

Opta's supercomputer has worked its magic to figure out the most likely final league position of every team - and the chances each has of being promoted, making the play-offs or getting relegated.

Who is most likely to win automatic promotion?

It will come as no surprise that leaders Coventry are heavy favourites for the title (69.3%) and also have the highest chance of automatic promotion (84.2%) to the Premier League.

The next most likely to go straight up, with a 30.8% chance, are Middlesbrough. Despite currently sitting seventh and six points behind Boro in second, Ipswich are expected to be the third favourites for a top two finish (18.9%) followed by Stoke (14.1%).

Even though they've each enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Preston (10.3%), Hull (6.1%) and Millwall (8.3%) have slimmer chances of finishing in an automatic promotion spot.

Who will make the play-offs?

Image source, Rex Features

Even if Coventry don't win automatic promotion, Opta's supercomputer has given the Sky Blues a 97.9% chance of a top-six finish, suggesting it's almost guaranteed.

Each of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Preston and Stoke are expected to finish in a minimum of a play-off position at least one in two times.

Hull might feel the hardest done by as they sit fifth currently, but are said to have less chance (32.3%) than Millwall (38.8%) and Charton (32.4%), who are below them in the table.

The most likely of the chasing pack to make a surge up the table are 12th-placed Leicester City, who have been given a 31.8% chance of finishing in the top six and are more likely than Bristol City (28.9%), Derby (22.9%) and Birmingham (19.9%).

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United have just a 1.8% chance of recovering their season to make the play-offs again, while relegated Premier League side Southampton (12.5%) aren't likely to either... if you trust the supercomputer!

Who is going down?

Image source, Rex Features

It's probably not hard to work out who is most likely to finish bottom and be relegated to League One.

Sheffield Wednesday's 12-point deduction, which has left them 17 points adrift of safety on -4 points, means they're pretty much nailed on to finish bottom (84.8%) - and failing that, are almost certain to go down (98.2%).

Second from bottom Norwich are the next most likely candidates to fall through the trap door (58.5%) but Sheffield United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, have just a 22.4% chance of going down and are considered more likely to stay up than Oxford (37.8%) and Portsmouth (31.3%).

Queens Park Rangers will look to end a four-match winless drought when they host Hull City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Hoops are currently six points off the pace of the top six, while the Tigers lie snugly within in fifth.

However, with so much competition lying in wait, Hull will likely need a win to remain in their play-off spot.

• QPR won their last league game against Hull but they haven't registered consecutive wins against the Tigers since February 1970.

• Hull City have won five of their last nine league visits to Queens Park Rangers (D1 L3), including a 3-1 victory last season under Tim Walter.

• Queens Park Rangers have lost their last three home Championship matches, last losing four in a row in November/December 2022. The last Hoops manager to lose four home league games in a row was Chris Ramsey between February and April 2015 (five in a row).

• Hull are one of three teams yet to score a Championship goal from outside the box this season, along with Middlesbrough and Sheffield United. They've had 54 attempts from outside the box without scoring in 2025-26.

• Hull have conceded the most goals when they've been winning in Championship games this season (10) and they've faced 108 shots when leading – 14 more than other side. It's 64 more shots than they've had (44) when winning, also the worst differential.

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has confirmed that midfielder Kasey Palmer is still four weeks away from fitness despite being called up for Jamaica for their World Cup Qualifiers.

The 29-year-old did not feature in their draws against Trinidad and Tobago and Curacao.

"I let him go because they tried to win this last game and then to celebrate their World Cup [qualification]," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We agreed everything with our physios with their physios to continue his therapy there so he's now on half way. Four weeks already gone and now still four weeks to come back on the pitch."

Striker Ollie McBurnie could make his return against Stoke City on 29 November after suffering a setback before the Norwich City game, while midfielder John Lundstram will return to training on Monday.

"He [McBurnie] tried to push before Norwich but then he felt [his calf] again and that's something we need to stop, slow down and maybe [have] two or three weeks more recovery for him," Jakirovic added.

Liam Millar is set for a return in December, while midfielder Eliot Matazo is due back in January.

However winger Mohamed Belloumi is back in full training and could be in contention for a place in the starting XI against QPR on Saturday.

"We will see [if he starts]. There's a lot of games, a lot of opportunity for everyone."

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

Joe Gelhardt insists he is happy at Hull City despite fears he might be recalled from his loan by Leeds United in January.

The 23-year-old scored the winner against Portsmouth in Hull's last Championship game on 8 November and has been linked with other teams in the division including leaders Coventry.

The striker is back at the club after spending the second half of last season with the Tigers.

"It's clear to see there was genuine interest but it was killed quite quickly," Gelhardt said.

"Me and the manager both said, I'm happy where I am and I'm ready to play for Hull for however long that is and put the Hull shirt on and crack on.

"I've done that and I'm still continuing to do that. I'm happy here. I love playing for the club."

Gelhardt was speaking to BBC Radio Humberside's James Hoggarth at a supporters club event alongside defender Charlie Hughes.

"It wasn't just this January coming, it was after last season as well and I tried my hardest to get him back in the summer," Hughes said.

"I was on the phone to him every single day but it's not just me, it's the whole team, the club, the staff, the fans, they love him and they've understood how good a player he is and how big a part of the team he is.

"He speaks for himself when he's on the pitch and as you can see the fans love him and he's such a big part of the club. It would be frustrating, a sad moment if he did get recalled."

Image source, Shuttershock

Hull City defender Semi Ajayi missed from the spot as Nigeria lost a penalty shootout to DR Congo to exit the World Cup qualifiers.

The game to decide who would go through to a final intercontinental qualifier next March, finished 1-1 after extra time in neutral Rabat.

With the shootout going to sudden death, Ajayi stepped up to take Nigeria's sixth penalty and saw his effort saved by goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu who had been brought on specially for the spot-kicks.

It means Nigeria will miss the World Cup finals for the second successive competition.

Image source, Shutterstock

Hartlepool United have signed winger Pharrell Brown on loan for a month from Championship side Hull City.

Brown, 20, is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Tigers since he joined the club from Fleetwood Town in the summer of 2024, although he has been an unused substitute on a number of occasions this season.

Image source, Shuttershock

Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur has been called into the senior Croatia squad for the first time.

The 25-year-old, who has started all 15 of the Tigers' Championship matches this term, has been included in Zlatko Dalic's squad for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Montenegro.

Pandur has played for Croatia from under-15 level up to U21s and had previously been named as a standby for the senior side.

Croatia lead Group L in Uefa qualification and need just one point from their remaining two games to secure their place at next year's World Cup finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Hull City boss Sergei Jakirovic was impressed with the manner of his side's win over Portsmouth on Saturday lunchtime.

The Tigers edged past Pompey 3-2 in an entertaining match to move into the Championship's play-off places.

After the score was level at half-time, Joe Gelhardt produced a calm and composed finish to dink the ball over keeper Josef Bursik and win the game for the Tigers.

"I'm very pleased with the performance, we played very well for all 90 minutes," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We controlled most moments on the pitch and scored three beautiful goals and we put a lot of energy and intensity on the pitch.

"The third goal was outstanding, even the pass from Charlie because they had five behind (the ball), but great timing of the run by Joe Gelhardt, first touch amazing and the second touch, I would say like Denis Bergkamp for Arsenal.

"Enis Destan (was brought in), because we expected a lot of long balls, a lot of air challenges, they tried to press us man to man all over the pitch.

"When he arrived he was injured, now he's healthy and I'm pleased to give him the chance, and he used his first appearance, first goal, it cannot be better."