Hull City

Hull City forward Joel Ndala says Tuesday's 2-1 Championship loss to Derby was "bittersweet" after scoring his first league goal for the club.

Derby's Carlton Morris opened the scoring in the first half before Ndala's equaliser was rendered in vain by Lars-Jorgen Salvesen's winner for the Rams.

Ndala's only other goal for the club came in the 3-3 draw at Wrexham in the Carabao Cup that the Tigers eventually went on to lose on penalties.

"Obviously we didn't get the result so it's bittersweet," the 19-year-old, on loan from Manchester City, told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It seems to be every time I score we lose the game, just like Wrexham away, but it's part of the game and we have to move on from it.

"It was a lucky goal, I just scrambled and tried to get in at the back post, but I couldn't believe it when I saw it between my legs and I just tried to get it in the back of the net as quickly as I could.

"I'm happy that I was able to celebrate with the away end, it was a good feeling."

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

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic spoke to BBC Radio Humberside after Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Derby County.

"It's always frustrating when you lose the game, but I think we played very well today," he said. "Especially in the second half when we controlled everything and we scored a nice goal.

"But in the end we unfortunately made two mistakes today and we were punished with two goals. Especially the second one, it's an easy situation. But these things happen in football.

On what he will say to goalkeeper Ivor Pandur after the error that cost Hull: "Head up and we continue. We will go on, because what can you do? You can't change anything. You can just take the lesson from this situation and keep going forward."

Derby County welcome Hull City to Pride Park (19:45 GMT) with both sides in excellent form.

John Eustace's side have won their last three games, having only won once in their opening 10.

Hull are coming into this one after an impressive 2-0 victory over struggling Norwich City on Saturday and sit seventh in the standings with the playoffs in sight already.

• Derby County have won nine of their last 12 league games against Hull City (D2 L1), with their only defeat in that time coming in October 2019 (0-2 away).

• Hull City won three consecutive away games against Derby County between the 2010-11 and 2012-13 campaigns but are winless in six visits to Pride Park in the league since (D1 L5).

• Derby County ended a run of eight home league games without victory (D5 L3) by beating Norwich and QPR 1-0 in their final two home matches of October – the Rams last won three in a row at Pride Park in March/April this year.

• Hull City have lost each of their last five midweek (Tue/Wed/Thu) away games in the Championship without scoring (6 conceded) since a 3-1 win at QPR in October 2024.

• Derby County manager John Eustace has won each of his three meetings with Hull City in the Championship away from home, but has lost both of his two at home by the same 1-0 scoreline (with Birmingham in December 2022 and Blackburn in December 2024).

Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic hailed Joe Gelhardt's character as he overcame a sore ankle to open the scoring in the Tigers' first win at Norwich in 15 years.

Gelhardt shrugged off an ankle knock in the first half to bag his fourth goal in four games in the 2-0 win and Jakirovic is delighted with the on-loan Leeds hitman.

"Joffy's finish was excellent with his weak foot," he told BBC Radio Humberside. "He had also problems with his ankle and he had a kick in the first half.

"I was asking him if he wanted to continue, but he wanted to play. This also shows his character and he wants to play all the time. I'm very, very happy with him and since he's arrived here, his statistics are amazing.

"I must admit, we survived the first half because Norwich were much better than us. At half-time, we changed our shape and from the beginning of the second half, we looked much better. These are a huge three points for us."

Norwich return to Carrow Road seeking their first points of the season at home as Hull City visit on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Canaries have lost all six games infront of their own fans under Liam Manning this season in all competitions, are on a five-match losing streak in the Championship and have taken just two points from their past eight games to slip to second-bottom of the table, ahead of only Sheffield Wednesday.

The Tigers, by contrast, are unbeaten in their past five league games, taking 11 points, and sit eighth, only outside the play-off places on goal difference.

• Norwich City are unbeaten across their past five league games against Hull City (W4 D1), scoring 12 goals in total during that time.

• Hull City have won just one of their 13 away league games against Norwich City since 1972 (D3 L9), a 2-0 success at Carrow Road in September 2010.

• Norwich have picked up just eight points through their opening 12 Championship matches this season (W2 D2 L8), their fewest during a second-tier campaign since 2007-08 when they eventually finished 17th (also 8 points).

• Hull have won just one of their past eight away league games (D3 L4), though did win last time out on the road when beating Birmingham City 3-2 at St Andrew's.

• With 20 goals through their opening 12 Championship games, Hull have netted their most goals at this stage of a second-tier campaign since 2017-18 (23).

Image source, PA Media

Hull City forward Liam Miller is facing up to six weeks out with a hamstring injury.

Head coach Sergej Jakirovic confirmed that the Canada international could be out until December after sustaining the injury in last weekend's home draw with Charlton Athletic.

The news is a blow given Miller is only five games into a return following 11 months out with a anterior cruciate ligament injury.

"At least we have two weeks international break, which is good for us, but it is huge in terms of the impact to our team and it is very frustrating for him," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

In hindsight, the Hull boss regretted bringing Miller on as a second-half substitute against Charlton.

"He played 90 minutes on Tuesday and got a [new] baby [on] Friday. I think he is emotionally exhausted. He didn't sleep so good," Jakirovic said.

"If I knew that he didn't sleep so much I would never have sent him on the pitch, but what can we do now?"

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic said that it is more "no than yes" as to whether striker Oli McBurnie will be available for Saturday's Championship game against Charlton Athletic.

The 29-year-old has been suffering from a calf injury and missed the victory over Leicester City in the week.

"If you ask Oli, he's ready, he will play but we will see. It's still two days but I have a bad experience from when players are not 100%," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"If he needs to skip some games, it's better to skip."

Captain Lewie Coyle could make his return having spent the match against the Foxes on the bench nursing an ankle issue, but he is unlikely to start, while defender Ryan Giles is "good" after coming off the pitch with a hip problem on Tuesday.

Jakirovic said he feels English football offers less protection from referees compared to officiating in Europe, and that it contributes to the injury issues sustained across the league.

"The referees, they need to protect the players during challenges because this is the reason we have a lot of injuries," he said.

"It's not rugby. I know in England, they like rugby, but for me, it's football-rugby what I saw.

"When I see my strikers in challenge with the centre-backs, they are suffering. It's very difficult to play because they kick you all the time."

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

In-form sides Hull City and Charlton Athletic will compete to go ahead as they meet at the MKM Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Both teams currently possess 18 points, with the Addicks two places above the seventh placed Tigers due to goal difference.

But Hull are on a four match unbeaten streak, winning their past three, and will be eager to break into that top six.

• Hull City have won just three of their last 13 league games against Charlton Athletic (D5 L5), though all three have come on home soil during that time.

• Charlton Athletic have lost three of their last four away league games against Hull City (W1), one more than across their prior 16 such matches combined between October 1929 and October 2007.

• Hull have won each of their last two home league games and will be looking to win three in succession for the first time since November 2023.

• Charlton won their last away league game 3-0 vs Ipswich in midweek; they haven't won successive away league games whilst netting 3+ goals in the process since May 2014.

• Joe Gelhardt has either scored (2) or assisted (1) each of Hull's last three Championship goals; it's more goal involvements than in his previous 11 league games (2).

Hull City assistant boss Dean Holden said Tuesday's Championship win over Leicester was "very, very pleasing".

Two first-half goals, including Liam Millar's excellent strike on his first start in just under a year, saw them earn their third straight league victory.

"It's a great result, three wins on the spin is a fantastic week for us," Holden told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It was always going to be a tough game against one of the favourites for promotion.

"I thought we started really well, we created chances early, and anyone who was in the stadium to witness Liam Millar's goal will know it was fantastic.

"We have scored some really good goals recently, but that second one was as good as any. There was really quick play to get beyond them and Joe Gelhardt is exactly where you'd want him to be.

"I thought we could have had the game sewn up, and in the second half the game got stretched. But it was a performance full of grit and desire, a very pleasing performance."

Hull City are going for three league victories in a row for the first time since the start of October last year.

Leicester's only Championship defeat so far this season came in their first away game of the campaign at Preston North End.

• Hull have only won two of their past nine league meetings with Leicester City (D3 L4), with the most recent ending 2-2 in March 2024.

• Leicester have only won one of their past five league trips to Hull City (D2 L2), winning 1-0 in the Premier League in December 2014.

• After their 1-0 win over Sheffield United, Hull could win back-to-back home league games for only the second time since the start of last season, last doing so in March.

• Leicester have won as many of their five away games in the Championship this season (2) as they managed in 19 on the road in the Premier League last term.

• Hull's Oli McBurnie has been directly involved in 15 goals in his past 14 home league games in English football, scoring 10 and assisting another five. McBurnie scored in both of his two previous home league matches against Leicester as a Sheffield United player.

Hull City goalkeeper Ivor Pandur hopes his club performances will be enough to earn him a spot in the Croatia squad for the 2026 World Cup.

The 25-year-old has played throughout the age group levels for Croatia but is up against the likes of experienced international Dominik Livakovic to find a place in the senior national squad.

"Every day you wake up you have this [World Cup] in the back of your mind," Pandur told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I have to give everything to have no regrets. If I end up there it is great, if not I will just work even harder.

"There are keepers that have been there for a number of years, so it is not easy to get in. I just hope my performances will be enough for me to get a place."

Pandur has kept two clean sheets for The Tigers this season, having conceded 16 goals in nine league games.

Hull beat Sheffield United 1-0 before the international break and travel to Birmingham City on Saturday looking for another three points to break an unwanted run.

The Tigers have not won back-to-back games in over a year - the last time was in October 2024 when they they beat Cardiff and QPR .

"Our goal for every game is to win and to give our best," Pandur said. "It is a game of fine margins, as we know.

"It is why we train so hard to win games, and to get good momentum going forward."

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

Birmingham City will look to leapfrog their neighbours on the table, Hull City, when they welcome the Tigers to St Andrew's on Saturday (15:00 BST).

It's very close between the two sides mathematically, with both clubs on 12 points and Blues being just one goal lighter with a -3 goal difference compared to Hull's -2.

Neither have lost in their past two league matches but Birmingham haven't conceded defeat on home soil for much longer - can Hull spoil the St Andrew's party to pull away?

• Birmingham City have won just one of their last 10 league games against Hull City (D4 L5) and are winless in their previous three (D1 L2).

• Hull City are unbeaten in each of their last five league trips to Birmingham City (W2 D3), keeping a clean sheet in each of their previous three visits.

• Birmingham City are unbeaten in their last 29 home league matches, only once managing a run of 30+ home games without losing, doing so between October 1970 and April 1972 (36).

• Four of Hull City's last five league goals have been scored via a cross. Overall, they've netted five Championship goals via crosses in 2025-26, with only Wrexham (6) scoring more.

• All 14 of Hull's Championship goals this season have come from inside the box, with only Coventry City scor more inside the box goals (24). Indeed, Hull have had 29 shots from outside the box, the third lowest total of any side, ahead only of Sheffield Wednesday (20) and Derby (25).

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has revealed midfielder John Lundstram will be out for six weeks with a calf muscle injury.

The 31-year-old is on a season-long loan from Turkish side Trabzonspor but was forced off after 15 minutes of the Tigers' 1-0 Championship win over Sheffield United on 4 October.

"It's not a good situation, our medical team told me it's six weeks," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We need to be patient, he's having therapy and we are going day-by-day week-by week and our prediction is he'll be out until the next international break (in November)."

Lundstram joined the Tigers in July and has started all nine of their league games, scoring once.

"It's a strain, maybe a small rupture," added Jakirovic.

"It's a very big blow because we have six games in three and a half weeks but we still have six midfielders so it's a good situation but Lundstram is important for everything."

Hull City return to Championship action away at Birmingham City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City striker Oli McBurnie has been named the English Football League's player of the month for September.

The summer signing scored in all four matches for the Tigers, with a tally of five goals and an assist.

"I'm delighted to win Championship player of the month. It's been an unbelievable start to the season for me on a personal level," McBurnie told the EFL, external.

"The main thing is the team doing well, and we're showing glimpses of what we can be and what we want to achieve.

"Chipping in with goals and assists always has a positive effect and as a team, we're getting to where we want to be."

McBurnie was given a target of 15 goals this season by boss Sergej Jakirovic and has now scored six across their opening nine league games.

The former Scotland international beat Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan, Ipswich Town winger Jaden Philogene and Charlton right-back James Bree to take the award.

Image source, Getty Images

Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town lead the manager and player of the month awards for September after both sides have remained undefeated and climbed up the Championship table.

Tractor Boys winger Jaden Philogene has been nominated for player of the month after finding the net four times across the side's three completed matches in September, including a hat-trick during their 5-0 drubbing over Sheffield United.

Charlton's James Bree bagged two goals and two assists over their four games to earn his nod.

Addicks boss Nathan Jones and Ipswich's Kieran McKenna both earn manager of the month nominations for their roles in their unbeaten months but face tough competition against Preston North End's Paul Heckingbottom and Queens Park Rangers' Julien Stephen.

Both also enjoyed an undefeated September, with Preston and QPR currently residing in the top six.

Sheffield Wednesday captain Barry Bannan and Hull City's Ollie McBurnie round out the player nominations.

McBurnie scored in each of the side's four games to produce five goals in September, while Bannan helped earn Wednesday five points with an opening goal in their first league win of the season against Portsmouth and two assists.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic described his side's 1-0 win over fellow Championship strugglers Sheffield United as "massive".

Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside: "From the first minute you could see it would be a battle on every inch of the pitch.

"They had good possession and we were lucky when they hit the post, but we always had our moments.

"Thank God Ivor saved the penalty. I am very happy for him. It is a big relief for Ivor and a good boost for his confidence. I am very happy. We had a clean sheet and we were very strong defensively.

"In the second half we could have won the game with some chances.

"The clean sheet was important. When we had possession, if we lost it, we knew it was difficult against this side."