City face pivotal fixture schedule up to Boxing Day
WHAT DOES THE FESTIVE SEASON RUN-UP HOLD FOR MCCANN’S MEN?
Hull City face yet another pivotal period in their season when Championship action returns after the international break. Between the visit of the Blues on Saturday to Boxing Day’s home clash with Blackburn Rovers, Grant Mccann’s men face crucial encounters against sides in and around them at the wrong end of the table.
Last weekend’s hugely important win at Barnsley will hopefully kick-start their season and ensure they’re looking at their next batch of games with a little more positivity after ending that run of five successive defeats.
Here’s a look ahead to the next seven...
November 20: Birmingham City - home
Next up for the Tigers are Lee Bowyer’s Blues at the MKM Stadium, and on the back of victory over Barnsley, it’s imperative City start to put a run together if they’re to have any hope of climbing the table.
Blues away from St Andrew’s boast the sixth best record in the division with three wins from their eight games, but despite sitting in 15th, they’re just four points off the top six such is the condensed nature of the Championship’s middle ground.
Given City’s desperate home form in the second tier over the recent past, Mccann knows just how important three points here will be.
Prediction: 1-0
November 24: Cardiff City away
The trip to Barnsley last Saturday was billed as a must-win six-pointer and it was a game where City produced their best for a while in securing a priceless 2-0 win.
If there was a slight negative to the afternoon it was Cardiff’s comeback win against Huddersfield Town, which saw them move three points clear of City.
At one point in the afternoon, City were out of the bottom three and the Bluebirds were in it, before the managerless Welsh side roared back in style.
A long trip to the principality awaits and it’s a game Mccann’s men dare not lose given the proximity of the two in the table.
While three points would be an early Christmas present, taking a point on the long road home would be more than handy. Prediction: 1-1
November 27: Millwall - home
Gary Rowett’s Lions are the definition of a tough Championship nut to crack. Sitting ninth, they are just three points off fifth.
No side has drawn more than Millwall’s
four on the road this term, but again, City in front of their own fans have a real opportunity to produce a much-needed victory. Prediction: 0-2
December 4: Reading - away
There’s a theme developing here; Reading are another of those sides languishing in the lower mid-table region, yet still just a couple of results away from getting themselves into the top six.
City haven’t been beaten by the Royals in their last three meetings which includes a 1-1 draw in Royal Berkshire in February 2020.
Having struggled for goals away from home either side of Preston and Barnsley, Reading’s 13 goals conceded in eight outings at what used to be known as the Madejski Stadium should give Mccann’s men hope. Prediction: 1-0
December 11: Bristol City home
A cursory look at the league table suggests this is City’s biggest home test of the period before Christmas, given the Robins’ obvious struggles.
Despite their woeful home form, the Reds on the road have four wins from their first nine games - the fifth best in the league - but may arrive in the East Riding without ex-tigers boss Nigel Pearson, who is currently off ill.
Pearson, like Mccann at Hull City, has been under mounting pressure from Ashton Gate supporters with many wanting yet another change on the Avon.
This fixture has to be placed firmly into the must-win category, you feel.
Prediction: 1-1
December 18: Nottingham Forest - away
In City’s final outing before Christmas, they travel to the City Ground to take on a rejuvenated Forest side under Steve Cooper.
Over the last 10 games, only Bournemouth and Fulham have better records than Forest’s six wins and three draws, with their only defeat coming against the Cottagers.
Prior to that, Forest were bottom of the league after collecting just one point from their first seven matches and are another of the clubs on 22 points just four from the top six.
The Tigers will hope for a repeat of the 2-1 victory they secured on their last visit to the banks of the Trent a little over two years ago. Prediction: 2-0
December 26: Blackburn Rovers - home
While not technically before Christmas, it doesn’t seem right to talk about the run-up to the big day and then not mention Boxing Day, many fans’ favourite gameday of the season.
The Tigers host a Rovers side that responded superbly to their 7-0 drubbing at home to Fulham by seeing off Sheffield United, despite going behind early on.
Rovers are enjoying a good season - that hammering aside - and sit seventh, only outside the play-off zone on goal difference.
Tony Mowbray’s men have clocked up two wins on the road, with three draws and as many defeats, suggesting this will be another tight affair. Given it’s Christmas and City will hope for a bumper festive crowd, three points would be just the ticket.
Prediction: 1-0
Total points return: 8 from 21