The Tigers have a break from Championship action this weekend, with Chelsea to come in the FA Cup on Friday night
Hull City’s defensive problems reared their head against Bristol City(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock)
Hull City’s defensive issues will prove to be their downfall when it comes to challenging for the top two, according to one regular Championship observer.
City missed the chance to close the gap on leaders Coventry City to just two points on Saturday, after losing 3-2 at home to Bristol City.
The Tigers had closed the gap to four last Tuesday night with a 0-0 draw against Watford, which was their game in hand on Coventry and Middlesbrough, but that has since been extended with Boro winning at Sheffield United on Monday to leapfrog the Sky Blues, with Kim Hellberg’s side now seven clear of City.
While the Tigers have been much better defensively in recent weeks, since conceding four at home to Boro in the first half of their 4-1 home loss in early December, the manner of their concessions against the Robins on Saturday has raised more concerns.
Those three goals scored in their net took their tally to 43 from 31 games so far this season, while the two they did score took the tally to 50, but Sky Sports Championship commentator Simeon Gholam believes their defensive issues will hamper their automatic hopes.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest Hull City news and analysis on our Hull Live FB page
“For all the attacking prowess Hull City have at their disposal, they simply look too leaky at the back to mount a serious push towards the top two,” Simeon Gholam told Sky Sports.
“From a promising position against Bristol City, leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from the brilliant Oli McBurnie, they conceded chance after chance and then found themselves 3-1 down. This was a Robins side, of course, that fell to a 5-0 defeat at home to Derby last time out. They weren’t exactly confident or in form.
“Hull City have already scored 50 goals this season, the third most in the league, but have shipped 43 at the other end. No club outside of the bottom five have conceded more.
“Blackburn and Oxford, currently sat in 22nd and 23rd, have conceded fewer. Promotion challenges are built on defences, and that’s where Hull have fallen short.”
Here at Hull Live, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group.
You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service.
Click here to be sent the day’s biggest stories.
Watch Hull City’s Championship games on Sky Sports
Every one of Hull’s Championship games broadcast on Sky is included with the provider’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, which comes with an introductory discount of £336 and offers more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.