Hull City

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic insists the Tigers are "not afraid" of promotion rivals Ipswich Town heading into Tuesday's key Championship trip to Portman Road.

The Tigers are fifth in the table, seven points inside the play-off places, and among a cluster of clubs - including fourth-placed Ipswich - hoping to chase down Middlesbrough in the second automatic promotion spot.

"I'm not afraid of Ipswich," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside. "It will be a very good game because already we have shown this season we can play good football against them. I just hope it's a good game."

Hull City only stayed up in the second tier on the final day of the 2024-25 season courtesy of goal difference.

Under Jakirovic, who was appointed last July, they are now a serious contender for a return to the Premier League, with pivotal games against promotion rivals Ipswich, Millwall and Wrexham across the next eight days.

"We must keep going forward," Jakirovic added. "We now have 60 points, and it's not by accident.

"Sometimes you lose the game, sometimes you win, but we are in a good position. We will push more.

"Everything is on us. We must give everything so that at the end of the season we don't regret anything. So, give everything without any stress of any pressure, just enjoying the ride."

The Tigers are boosted by the timely return of influential midfielder Matt Crooks after seven matches out with injury.

The 32-year-old came off the bench on Saturday to score the decisive goal in their 1-0 win at Portsmouth, eight months after his effort at the same ground helped to keep the Tigers in the Championship.

"He's a very important player to us," Jakirovic added. "We missed him a lot because he gives us a lot of energy, a lot of challenges, second balls, and he's very important in set-pieces as well."

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City assistant head coach Marco Salatovic has been charged with misconduct by the FA following their Championship match with Derby County on 24 February.

The FA said the 41-year-old Croatian is alleged to have "acted in an improper manner in or around the 74th minute" of the game leading to his dismissal by referee Adam Herczeg.

Salatovic has until Wednesday, 4 March to respond to the charge.

He was charged and fined £1,500, external last month after admitting the same charge of misconduct in two incidents during Hull's match against Southampton on Saturday, 17 January.

Ipswich Town could enter the automatic promotion places if they are to win against Hull City on Tuesday evening (19:45 GMT).

The Tractor Boys are three points short of current second place holders Middlesbrough, but a superior goal difference will mean Boro will lose out should Ipswich win and Middlesbrough lose to Birmingham City on Monday night (20:00 GMT).

But the Tigers have their own motivation for victory. Three points would also move them level on points with the Teesside club as it stands and while it's unlikely they can make up the goals to reach second on this occasion, they will be piling on the pressure to do so next time around.

• After their 2-0 win in November, Ipswich could complete their first ever league double over Hull City – this is the 21st league campaign in which the two sides have faced.

• Hull City have lost three of their last four league meetings with Ipswich (D1), as many as their previous 25 beforehand (W14 D8 L3).

• Ipswich have only lost one of their last 21 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games in the Championship (W14 D6), a 0-3 defeat to Charlton in October 2025.

• After losing six successive away league games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) from November 2024 to November 2025, Hull won their last such fixture 3-0 at Preston in January.

• Chuba Akpom has scored in all three of his league appearances against Hull City (3 goals), including as a substitute for Ipswich in the reverse fixture in November.

Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic spoke to BBC Radio Humberside following their 1-0 win at Portsmouth.

"We didn't play good, our performance was average. We missed a lot in possession, you can play but you don't have control – (we made) unforced errors, giving the ball away," he said.

"At half- time we agreed we can play with much more confidence - be more vertical and we increased energy with the substitutions – (we were) not 100% in the first half.

"I was angry – it wasn't our face, our performance. I don't care any more about impressions but I would like that we play much better.

"I felt that we had one chance because we were mostly in our half. We took three points which is most important."

Image source, Coventry City FC

You might not hear the old terrace refrain of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' as often as you used to, but it still has a better ring than 'the shirt's not fit for you to wear'.

Championship leaders Coventry City launched a new collection on Friday, proudly taking inspiration from a kit widely dubbed the 'Worst of All Time'.

A take on the club's infamous brown change strip worn away from Highfield Road from 1978 to 1981, the modern reinvention features what the club calls "a deeper chocolate plum colour with sky blue elements".

Many would suggest it sounds tastier than it looks.

But it's got us thinking... what are actually the worst EFL kits of all time? Let us know which of your club's shirts is hiding in the back of the wardrobe, or even if they were too ugly for you to even part money for them.

We'll collate a list of the biggest eyesores and will give you the chance to vote on the ghastliest of all next week.

Click here to let us know your suggestion, and you can even attach a picture if you really want to convey the horror.

Hull City defender Ryan Giles will be out for eight weeks with a hamstring injury, according to head coach Sergej Jakirovic.

The 26-year-old left-back was forced off with the injury early in the second-half of Tuesday night's 4-2 win over Derby County in the Championship.

It is the second hamstring issue of the season for Giles, who missed the whole of January.

"I expected it to be six weeks, so he's missing another two weeks. It's his other leg, so it's not the same muscle," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"He never had this in his life before, but we cannot change anything, so we are looking forward to getting him back at least a couple of games before the end of the season."

Giles' absence increases the Tigers' defensive problems with Matty Jacob also out for at least six weeks with a knee injury.

"Every injury is a big blow for our team as they are big players for us. He [Giles] played a lot of games, and more worries for us is Matty Jacob is also injured, so we don't have any natural options [at left-back].

"We have Akin Famewo, but he is more a centre-back. But we will see for Saturday."

Hull are fifth in the Championship table and visit Portsmouth on Saturday (12:30 GMT), but will also be without on-loan Bristol City winger Yu Hirakawa, who is set to have surgery for an ankle injury.

Listen to more Hull City content and interviews on BBC Sounds.

Portsmouth go into this game five points clear of the Championship's relegation zone although a two-game winning streak on the road was ended by defeat at Wrexham on Tuesday night.

For their part, Hull City halted a two-match losing sequence by beating Derby in midweek and will hope to complete a first league double over Pompey for nearly 60 years.

• Portsmouth are winless in their past four league games against Hull City (D2 L2), last having a longer run against the Tigers between 1974 and 1980 (D3 L2).

• Following their 3-2 win in November, Hull City are looking to complete their first league double over Portsmouth since 1966-67.

• Portsmouth lost their past home league match and have only twice lost consecutively at Fratton Park since the start of last season (September 2024 and October 2025).

• Hull have won their past four away league games, last winning five in a row on the road in April 1966 in the third tier.

• Joe Gelhardt has scored more away goals than any other Hull player in the Championship this season (five), and has netted four goals in his past six starts on the road.

Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic says that his side's physical approach and teamwork were vital in their victory over play-off rivals Derby.

He told BBC Radio Humberside that the difference between this performance and last weekend's shock home loss to QPR was that the team "fought as one".

"A great victory for us. It was a great team effort.

"We played a little bit different today, pragmatic, because of the pitch. We were very aggressive, on the front foot.

"It was a very nervous game, but we were very strong in the challenges, completely different from Saturday.

"It was a demanding game, because Derby are a very strong team physically. For us, scoring the fourth goal when we did was perfect as it ended the game."

Hull City assistant manager Dean Holden says winger Yu Hirakawa will see a specialist to determine the extent of an ankle injury.

Hirakawa came off in Saturday's defeat at home by QPR and faces a spell on the sidelines.

Holden said the extent of the injury will be determined on Tuesday but admits it is a blow to be without him.

"He is going to see the specialist," he told BBC Radio Humberside. "We'll have more information after that meeting.

"It was innocuous. He came off in a lot of pain with swelling in the ankle after he flipped it over.

"It is in the hands of the experts, we'll await the outcome. It is another unfortunate one for us.

"He has really impressed with his quality and energy. The fans have really taken to him, as have the boys. It'll be a big miss for us."

Holden also confirmed midfielder Matt Crooks is expected to be in the squad against Derby after stepping up his recovery.

"We expect Crooksy to be back in the squad. He trained this morning and looks OK. He is a good player and brings something different to the team.

"He's been out for a period of time and not trained a great deal. We'll have to see how many minutes he'll play."

Derby County will seek to regain their place in the top six when they make the trip to fifth placed Hull City on Tuesday (19:45 GMT)

A 2-0 loss to Watford on the weekend meant the Rams were ousted to eighth but are still just three points away from their former haunt of sixth, now occupied by Wrexham.

However, while the Tigers might have a five point cushion in the play-off spots, no wins in their past three games (D1 L2) will have them hungry to try and stop the rot before they come into striking distance of those below.

• Hull are winless in their last six league games against Derby (D1 L5) since a 2-0 home win in October 2019.

• Derby have won each of their last two away league games against Hull both via 1-0 scorelines and will be looking to claim three away victories in succession in this fixture for the first time.

• Derby have won each of their last three away league games against Yorkshire sides, having lost nine consecutive visits to the county before this.

• Derby are unbeaten in their last 11 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W7 D4), conceding just five goals in that run since a 1-0 loss against Sunderland in January 2025.

• Derby manager John Eustace has won all three of his away league games against Hull City, with his sides keeping a clean sheet each time.

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside after his side's 3-1 defeat to QPR:

"Bad game for us, especially the last 10 minutes. We lost our balance and discipline on the pitch.

"We conceded a really cheap goal from the corner, from a throw-in - there is nobody on the midfielder and it is unacceptable.

"When we are in the attacking phase, we don't have too much space and we cannot turn with the ball.

"I think we entered very well the game, until the first goal which we conceded from the corner, which is for me unbelievable.

"We equalised and had some good decisions with the ball. After the substitutions, I think we can put them under more pressure, but the second goal is thoroughly unacceptable.

"I'm very angry because they didn't create these chances, QPR. We created those chances."

Image source, Opta

Hull City will hope to get their Championship promotion bid back on track when they welcome QPR on Saturday lunchtime (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

The Tigers are without a win in their past two games but are six points clear of seventh and seven points behind the automatic promotion places.

The Hoops have won just twice in their past 10 games (D4 L4) to slide from seventh in late December to 13th - though QPR are still only four points back from the top six.

• Hull City have lost their past two league meetings with QPR (1-2 in January and 2-3 in November 2025) – they have never lost three in a row against them in league competition.

• QPR have only won three of their previous 16 away league games against Hull (D7 L6), although all three of those victories have come within their most recent five trips (L2).

• Hull City have failed to win in their past two league games (D1 L1), despite both being home matches. Only once have they gone three without a win this season (D1 L2 in August/September).

• QPR are winless across their past seven away games in the Championship (D4 L3), with each of the past three ending 0-0 – only two sides have ever played four consecutive away goalless draws in the history of the second tier: Grimsby Town in 1963 and Crystal Palace in 1978-1979.

• Hull City rank 22nd for total shots in the Championship this season (345), but joint-6th for shots on target (135). The Tigers have fired the highest share of their attempts on target in the division this term (39%).

Image source, EFL

Puma's Rainbow ball will return to the English Football League as part of an on-going campaign against discrimination and homophobia.

The special edition rainbow ball was introduced in 2024 to mark LGBTQ+ History Month and will be used at every EFL game from 20 February until 1 March.

Manufacturers Puma will make a donation to Football v Homophobia for every goal scored with their rainbow ball across the Championship, League One and League Two.

The donations will help support education against homophobia and promote inclusion across the season.

The EFL have released a video, external to coincide with the campaign which features a Preston North End fan who was charged with a hate crime following homophobic chanting during an FA Cup fixture against Chelsea.

The rainbow ball will also feature in EFL partner EA Sports' FC 26 video game.

"The rainbow ball is a powerful symbol of the values we uphold across the EFL all season long," EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch said.

"It not only reflects our longstanding commitment to ensuring the League is representative of all its diverse communities, but also reminds us that we all have a role to play in creating an environment in which everyone feels they truly belong."

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Former Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler has spoken about his departure from the club as he enjoys a new challenge with Polish side Pogon Szczecin.

Kesler was one of the prominent figures of the Acun Ilicali ownership following the 2022 takeover but left by mutual consent in October 2024.

His exit came just a few months after Hull finished just outside the play-offs, ending the season in disappointing fashion under boss Liam Rosenior, who then departed the club.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Kesler said: "My departure was quite planned. After Liam left, it became extremely tiring. My son was born in Hull, and I was trying to be a father, a good husband, and we had to reshape everything after Liam.

"It became stressful and hard to manage, and I felt I needed a break."

Kesler said other Championship clubs approached him, and he hopes one day to return to what he calls his "second home" in English football.

However, he has since taken up a role in the Ekstraklasa – Poland's first division – at Pogon, working under owner and friend Alex Haditaghi.

"Pogon Szczecin were having financial trouble, literally days away from losing their licence and entering administration," he added. "I helped with due diligence without making the commitment. But then I saw the atmosphere, the stadium, the city, the fans — regular 22,000 sell-outs (and wanted to join).

"I enjoy developing players and football philosophies. Our philosophy is the same as at Hull, play the right football, develop one player per season and sell. We've just sold a talent to Lazio — Adrian Przyborek, who struggled for minutes before we arrived. With our philosophy, he developed. We sold him for €4.5m, with a total package of €7m and a big sell‑on.

"More players are in the pipeline, and we keep promoting them while trying to be in the top five."

Pundits Ellen White and Shay Given join host Alex Scott to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's FA Cup ties.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Hull City 0-4 Chelsea

• Wrexham 1-0 Ipswich

• Burton Albion 0-1 West Ham

• Manchester City 2-0 Salford City

• Aston Villa 1-3 Newcastle

• Liverpool 3-0 Brighton and Hove Albion