Sergej Jakirovic’s side sit fifth in the Championship table going into the final games
Sergej Jakirovic has seven games left of an enthralling campaign(Image: James Marsh/Shutterstock)
Hull City will return to action on Friday when they kick off the penultimate month of a captivating Championship season with a trip to relegation-threatened Oxford United.
City have seven games left to either mount a challenge for second place, or secure a play-off place and ensure they go into a semi-final next month for a shot at a promotion final under the Wembley arch.
The Tigers picked up an impressive 20th league win of the season, and 10th in front of their own supporters, by beating Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday before the international break to move onto 66 points, and now, attention turns to the final seven.
Here’s a look at who stands in City’s way between now and the end of the season…
Oxford United – A
Position: 23rd – 39 points
First up, City go to the Kassam Stadium and tackle an Oxford United side who had been on a three-game winning run before conceding late to draw at home to Charlton Athletic and then losing at in-form Southampton. The U’s have improved under Matt Bloomfield but are second bottom, and have won just five times at home all season, having scored 17. Only Sheffield Wednesday have scored fewer at home (10).
After being thrashed at West Brom, who were in the bottom three at that time, City will be under no illusions about the job facing them, but let’s make no mistake about it, this is a very winnable game for the visitors.
Coventry City – H
Position: 1st – 80 points
On paper, at least, the Tigers’ toughest remaining game of the season. The Sky Blues are racing clear at the top and, like City, have won 10 times on the road, but their five away defeats show they can be beaten. That said, they’ve bagged 41 goals away from home, which is by some distance the best in the league.
Under the lights on Easter Monday, in front of the television cameras, this promises to be quite a game to round off the Easter weekend.
Sheffield United – A
Position: 17th – 50 points
At the start of the season, not many would have had this one pegged as a dead rubber for United, but after a poor season, the Blades are well short of the promotion conversation and are now playing for pride and their respective futures.
Chris Wilder has improved things, but not to the level he expected, and their record at Bramall Lane is the 17th-worst in the Championship, with eight wins and eight defeats.
It is, however, a Yorkshire derby and one where Wilder will want to get one over on City, especially with so many ex-Blades in the Tigers’ ranks.
Birmingham City – H
Position: 11th – 53 points
Four defeats in the last six, coupled with a poor 1-1 home draw with 10-man Sheffield United, have seen the Blues’ play-off hopes take a massive dent, and the pressure has increased on Chris Davies.
Their form, coupled with those above them have seen them fall 10 points adrift of the play-offs, and in reality, that gap will be too much to bridge. For City, this is a must-win, you’d think. Dropping two points at home against Birmingham under Liam Rosenior proved costly two years ago, and this cannot be the case again.
Leicester City – A
Position: 22nd – 39 points
The Foxes are enduring a nightmare season on and off the pitch. Gary Rowett has been drafted in to try and keep them in the Championship, 10 years on from their famous Premier League title win. Third bottom going into the Easter weekend, the Foxes are in real trouble. One win in 10 isn’t the form of a team capable of surviving. Their home form sees them 20th in the table with eight defeats from their 19 games.
On their day, we know Leicester have quality, but going to the King Power, on that pitch, it’s surely a game the Tigers will absolutely relish.
Charlton Athletic – A
Position: 18th – 48 points
Another of the sides who have a poor home record, the Addicks are nine points above the drop zone and look to be closing in on safety with games running out. The scene of their League One title lift, City fans will hope to travel to South London this time to celebrate in their final away game of the regular season.
Of course, when City lifted the League One trophy back in May 2021 despite losing on the day, there were no fans present to savour the moment, but there will be a big following south of the river for what will surely be a pivotal afternoon.
Norwich City – H
Position: 10th – 54 points
When the resurgent Canaries come to East Yorkshire for the final game of the regular season, City will hope their fate is sealed, and that the game can be a celebration of what’s been a terrific season, and all about preparation for the play-offs.
Norwich may yet have something to play for, given their impressive form under Phillipe Clement. Seven wins in the last 10 have given them a glimmer of hope when it comes to gate-crashing the top six, but being seven points behind Southampton means they must be faultless.
Depending on how the previous six games go, perhaps there could be more to celebrate if the Tigers could go on one of their impressive winning runs, but either way, let’s hope Tigers fans are celebrating something come the end of it.
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How City’s fixture list looks
Friday, April 3: Oxford United – A – 3pm
Monday, April 6: Coventry City – H – 8pm
Saturday, April 11: Sheffield United – A – 3pm
Saturday, April 18: Birmingham City – H – 3pm
Wednesday, April 22: Leicester City – A – 7:45pm
Saturday, April 25: Charlton Athletic – A – 3pm
Saturday, May 2: Norwich City – H – 12:30pm
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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.