City host the Blades in one of Saturday’s early kick-offs at the MKM Stadium
Lewie Coyle is determined to give Hull City fans Yorkshire bragging rights this weekend when the Tigers host Sheffield United at the MKM Stadium, aiming to secure a third home success.
City have lost their last four home outings against the Blades, with their last win coming in February 2018 when Nouha Dicko sealed a 1-0 Championship win.
More than seven years on, City will go into the game with no shortage of former Blades in their squad. Regan Slater came through the academy at United before joining the Tigers, but John Egan, John Lundstram and Oli McBurnie all played pivotal roles in their rise to the Premier League under Chris Wilder, and sporting director Jared Dublin worked at Bramall Lane.
For the Tigers, it’s a chance to end the latest block of games with a second home victory in their last three games and leave them looking up the table going into the international break, rather than below after fighting back to earn a 2-2 against Preston North End in midweek.
“There’s a little bit of history; it’s always like that, there’s always some connection somewhere,” Coyle said of the ex-Blade flavour in the Tigers dressing room.
“A Yorkshire derby at home for us, an early kick-off always adds that little bit extra, and they’re the games you want to play in. I’ve been fortunate to play in a few derbies over the years, and they’re the ones that have that little bit extra, which is always nice.”
While there may not be too many United or Wednesday shirts in Hull, Coyle is keen to ensure Tigers fans get to celebrate a Yorkshire derby win, and ensure the Tigers remain the top-ranked side from the county in the Championship and keep the Blades firmly rooted to the foot of the very early table.
“I’ve not bumped into many, many Sheffield fans in Hull over my time, but I’m sure there’ll be a few,” he joked. “We certainly need to make sure we get the bragging rights.”
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