City have 16 games to secure promotion, and it’s firmly within their grasp
Liam Millar reacts to Hull City’s draw with Watford(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Sunderland legend and former Championship promotion winner Kevin Phillips believes Hull City are firmly in the race for automatic promotion, and says the pressure is off the Tigers.
City sit third in the table, just four points adrift of leaders Coventry City, who face second-placed Middlesbrough on Monday week at the CBS Arena.
Though they missed the chance to cut that to two points on Tuesday night when they were held to a goalless draw by Watford, Sergej Jakirovic’s men continued their fine form.
LISTEN: Dean Holden and Ivor Pandur preview the weekend visit of Bristol City
Crucially, that point came on the back of four successive wins and opened up a nine-point gap to Derby County, who sit seventh and outside the play-offs with 16 games of a captivating season to go.
The Tigers will be looking to further strengthen their grip on a play-off place this weekend when they host a Bristol City side likely to be keen to respond after their 5-0 drubbing last Friday night.
“I think you have to say yes; they could be on for automatic promotion,” Phillips told BestBettingSites when asked if the Tigers were in the automatic race.
“The way they’ve climbed up the league since the new manager has come in, and under such restrictions as well, I think they’ve done a fantastic job. They’re four points off the top spot. Would you say they slipped up against Watford? Potentially, yes, but you never know what you’re going to get with Watford.”
Despite working under strict transfer restrictions during the summer and again in January, City have brought in some smart signings, including Oli McBurnie, Joe Gelhardt and Lewis Koumas, deals that have impressed Phillips.
“But they’re in an excellent position, and considering the restrictions, they’ve worked the market really well during January,” he continued. “They’ve brought in six players, they’ve let six go out to go and play football, and it can only help.
“So, they’re in a really good position, and that’s the exact place you want to be at this stage of the season if you want a challenge for promotion in the top two, four points behind. The pressure isn’t on them; it’s on the top two. So, I think they’re definitely in it.”
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