Monday’s Championship clash between hosts Hull City and Coventry City at the MKM Stadium will have significant ramifications at both ends of the table.
The Tigers are fifth last in 20th place with 44 points following their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Watford on April 8, whereas the visitors beat Portsmouth 1-0 on April 9 and are in sixth place with 62 points.
Match preview
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Despite producing 16 shots compared to Watford’s nine, many of Hull’s efforts were not threatening, with the team accumulating less than 0.7 xG.
The hosts have only scored one goal in their past three games, and their return of 40 goals in the Championship makes them the second worst offensive team in the division.
Head coach Ruben Selles will understand the importance of victory on Monday given his side only two points and two places above the relegation zone.
The Tigers have lost two and won one of their last three matches, but they were unbeaten in their previous four, winning twice in that time.
Though Hull were beaten 1-0 by Luton Town on March 29 in their most recent away fixture, they collected seven points in their prior three outings on the road.
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Meanwhile, Coventry left it late to claim all three points against Portsmouth, scoring the only goal in the 94th minute, finding the back of the net with their 13th and final shot from inside the box.
The Sky Blues occupy the final promotion playoff spot but are only two points ahead of seventh-placed West Bromwich Albion, eighth-placed Middlesbrough and ninth-placed Millwall, though a win against Hull would see them leapfrog fifth-placed Bristol City.
Frank Lampard‘s side beat their hosts 2-1 in the reverse fixture on December 14, a game in which the victors produced six big chances compared to their opponents’ two.
Coventry’s form has been mixed, with the club losing three and winning two of their last five matches, scoring six goals while conceding seven times.
While the visitors were defeated in their two most recent outings on the road, they triumphed in their prior four away from home by a cumulative score of 9-3.
Team News
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Hull will be without several players due to injury, including wingers Mohamed Belloumi, Dogukan Sinik, Liam Millar and Louie Barry.
Joe Gelhardt and Lincoln flanked striker Joao Pedro Galvao against Watford, and perhaps Selles will have no choice but to field them together on Monday.
Midfielder Eliot Matazo has also been ruled out, and his absence could lead to the selection of Regan Slater and Steven Alzate in a double pivot.
Opponents Coventry will not be able to start goalkeeper Oliver Nnonyelu Dovin, and his injury could mean that Milan Van Ewijk, Bobby Thomas, Liam Kitching and Jay Dasilva are set to protect shot-stopper Bradley Collins.
Midfielders Josh Eccles and Victor Torp will miss out, so expect Ben Sheaf and Matt Grimes to be stationed in the middle of the pitch.
Haji Wright is likely to lead the forward line ahead of Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Jack Rudoni and Ephron Mason-Clark given striker Brandon Thomas-Asante is injured.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Pandur; Coyle, Jones, Hughes, McLoughlin; Slater, Alzate; Gelhardt, Crooks, Lincoln; Galvao
Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Collins; Van Ewijk, Thomas, Kitching, Dasilva; Sheaf, Grimes; Sakamoto, Rudoni, Ephron; Wright
We say: Hull City 1-2 Coventry City
Hull have proven to be difficult opponents in the past weeks, and Coventry are likely to encounter several challenges on Monday.
The hosts comprehensively outplayed the Tigers in their first meeting of the season, and following their confidence-boosting win against Portsmouth, Lampard will believe that his side can earn a crucial three points.
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