Hull v Leeds preview
Monday 29 January 2018 17:22, UK
Hull boss Nigel Adkins has plenty of selection dilemmas after making eight changes for his side's FA Cup win against Nottingham Forest.
Goalscorer Nouha Dicko and midfielder Jackson Irvine, plus defenders Ondrej Mazuch and Max Clark will be hoping to retain their places after returning to the side against Forest. Striker Will Keane made another substitute appearance after recently recovering from a long-term knee injury and winger Kamil Grosicki stepped off the bench after overcoming an ankle problem.
Allan McGregor, Michael Dawson, Fikayo Tomori and Fraizer Campbell were all unused substitutes, while David Meyler, Seb Larsson, Evandro and Jon Toral will also be pushing for recalls after being left out of Saturday's matchday squad.
Leeds will be without suspended trio Samuel Saiz, Eunan O'Kane and Liam Cooper, but Adam Forshaw is in contention for his debut. Saiz sits out the third game of his six-match ban, fellow midfielder O'Kane serves the second of his three-game ban and defender Cooper starts a three-match suspension.
Forshaw missed the recent home defeat to Millwall due to a minor injury following his permanent arrival from Middlesbrough, but could make his first appearance for the club. Defender Luke Ayling is out for the rest of the season after ankle surgery and striker Caleb Ekuban is still out due to another foot injury.
Opta stats
Hull are unbeaten in four home league meetings with Leeds (W1 D3) since a 2-1 defeat in January 2007.
Leeds haven't done a league double over the Tigers since the 1989/90 campaign under Howard Wilkinson - the last season in which they won promotion to the top-flight.
Hull City have failed to score in six of their last seven league games, only scoring against Fulham in their 2-2 draw with Fulham in December.
This will be Nigel Adkins' fourth home league meeting with Leeds (W2 D0 L1 previously), all against different managers - Gary McAllister (August 2008), Simon Grayson (August 2011), Brian McDermott (September 2013) and Thomas Christiansen this time.
Leeds United have been given a red card in each of their three games in all competitions, losing all three - indeed the Whites have received red cards in six games this season (W1 D0 L5).
Hull have won five Championship games this season, all against sides beginning with B - in games against sides not beginning with B, they have collected 10 points from a possible 63 (P21 W0 D10 L11).
Prutton's prediction
Beating Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup was a real boost for Hull after such a dismal run of form, but now they've got to start scoring goals in the Championship as well, which they simply haven't been doing.
They meet a Leeds who have slipped away from the play-offs again and are in need of a win themselves to recapture some form. It's a good time to play Leeds, however, and I think Hull could nick this one.
David Prutton predicts: 1-0 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
