City tackle the first of two home games in the space of a few days
Hull City host Middlesbrough on Friday night in another big Championship showdown as the Tigers look to move third in the Championship.
Last Saturday’s 2-1 win at Stoke City ended a run of two straight defeats and moved Sergej Jakrovic back to within a point of the top six, courtesy of goals from Semi Ajayi and Joe Gelhardt.
Attention for the Tigers now turns to the visit of high-flying Boro, who replaced Stoke in the top two after coming from behind to beat Derby County in Kim Hellberg’s first game in charge.
Here’s all the details you need ahead of the big clash under the MKM Stadium lights…
What time is kick-off?
The game gets underway at 8pm in East Yorkshire. It’s the same kick-off time as next Wednesday night’s visit of Wrexham to the MKM Stadium.
How can I watch it?
The game is the latest Tigers encounter to be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage getting underway at 19:30 on channels 401 and 403. The Tigers’ dramatic’ win at the bet365 Stadium last weekend was also shown live, as will be the game against Phil Parkinson’s side in midweek.
Fancy a deal?
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.
What’s the form?
City returned to winning ways on Saturday at Stoke, ending a two-game losing run, which included a 2-0 home loss to Ipswich Town, which brought a six-game unbeaten run at the MKM Stadium to an end. Despite those defeats, City have still won six of their last 10. Only leaders Coventry City have won more since the start of October. At home, the Tigers have won five, drawn two and lost two.
Boro have won two of their last six games in the Championship and have won just one of their last seven away from the Riverside Stadium, drawing four and losing the other two.
Team news
City boss Sergej Jakirovic expects to have Charlie Hughes available after he missed the win at Stoke, and will make a decision in the hours before the game on Liam Millar and Oli McBurnie. Kasey Palmer, Cody Drameh and Eliot Matazo remain out.
For Boro, Luke Ayling, Darragh Lenihan and Dael Fry won’t be involved, but George Edmundson and Aidan Morris could be back after returning to training this week.
Ticket details
The game has been designated as an all-ticket fixture, meaning no tickets are available on the day of the game. Boro, meanwhile, have sold out of their 2,346 allocation.
What have they said?
Former Boro cult-hero Matt Crooks spoke to Hull Live about the visit of his old club, and he had this to say…
“I’m really excited about it; it’s another game, obviously, but it holds its own connotations for me within it. I had a really good time there. Huge respect for the football club, for the people that work there, that are still there, and some of the players that I’ve played with, so yeah, I’m looking forward to it.
“It’s like home for me, really, now. My family’s up there, my two lads have got Teesside accents, so it’s kind of a mixed household for us, this week, but Christmas spirit and all that, so I’ll keep it kind enough.”
Any other business?
It’ll be the first time Alfie Jones has returned to the MKM Stadium since leaving the club for the Riverside Stadium in the summer.
Jones, who made his debut for Canada last month, played 191 for the Tigers after arriving ahead of their League One title-winning campaign in 2020.
Should City claim victory, they would eclipse their entire total of home wins last season. Last term, the Tigers mustered just five, and they’ve already reached that in the early weeks of the new campaign.
Three points would also move City third in the Championship, at least until their rivals then take to the field on Saturday afternoon.
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