The Tigers remain firmly entrenched inside the top six
Hull City were 1-0 winners at Portsmouth on Saturday(Image: James Marsh/Shutterstock)
Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Millwall at the MKM Stadium. Wrexham at the Racecourse. A week that could define what is to come in the Championship promotion race.
The next three games, all in the space of a week, could well shape what’s to come in the remaining weeks of what has so far been a thrilling campaign for Hull City.
Much of Saturday’s performance at Portsmouth was anything but thrilling, but once Matt Crooks’s clinical finish 17 minutes from time put Sergej Jakirovic’s men in the lead, it certainly was.
The Tigers claimed a fifth straight win, their best run away from home since 1966 – the year Ken Wagstaff spearheaded a surge to the Division Three title.
LISTEN: Dean Holden previews Hull City’s trip to Portman Road
While the performance at Fratton Park was not one that on the surface screamed a side capable of promotion, the gritty, battling, professional nature of it did.
After the gruelling battle on Tuesday night against Derby County, which City came through to win 4-2, Sergej Jakirovic’s men looked jaded. Crucially, though, they found a way.
Throughout the season, promotion is won and lost on days like this. With all their rivals winning, this was crucial. City stood up and won the game.
Attention now turns to the next week. Three games against teams around them. Ipswich, who, based on budgets and squad strength and quality, should be top of the league, sit fourth and level on points with the Tigers. This is both clubs’ game in hand on those around them.
While many outside of East Yorkshire will back a home win given the Tractor Boys’ impressive record of just one home defeat in 17, City know they have the power to cause an upset as they have done all season. Anything in Suffolk would be viewed as a good result, and extend their gap to seventh to at least eight points, and potentially 10.
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Then comes Millwall. Like City, perhaps one of the surprise packages. Just as the Tigers did last month, Alex Neil’s men eased to a win at Preston North End on Saturday, and have responded well to that surprise home defeat to Pompey last weekend.
At the MKM Stadium, City have found the going tough in 2026, but that win over the Rams should give them a huge boost ahead of that 12:30pm showdown with the Lions.
Then comes the final one of this fascinating trio. A second trip to Wrexham of the season. Phil Parkinson’s men are flying and have won their last three. They sit sixth.
What happens over these three games won’t decide the season because there will be 10 cup finals to come after that, including games with leaders Coventry City and resurgent Sheffield United, amongst others, but it will undoubtedly have a major bearing.
These are games that should be embraced and relished. City have got themselves into a wonderful position, and they should try and enjoy the opportunity.
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