Hull City play host to Coventry City on Saturday afternoon looking to bounce back from suffering their first Championship defeat of the season last weekend.

Meanwhile, Coventry finally get to play their third league fixture of the season after a number of postponements due to the poor condition of their pitch.

Match preview

Hull City boss Shota Arveladze on August 13, 2022 © Reuters

On the back of a four-match unbeaten streak to start the season during a period which included games against promotion contenders, everything appeared to be heading in the right direction for Hull.

However, conceding five times against a West Brom side who had previously been short of goals will concern Shota Arveladze as he bids to keep the Tigers in the top six.

The Georgian will not ignore that just three goals had been shipped in four league games before the trip to The Hawthorns, but he will recognise that his players need to bounce back on Humberside at the weekend.

Oscar Estupinan netted two more goals during their last league outing, taking the new arrival to four strikes from his opening five outings for the club.

Nevertheless, the Colombian requires help from elsewhere, and Arveladze will feel that a meeting with a Coventry side without much game time is the perfect opportunity for that to be achieved.

Coventry City manager Mark Robins on January 25, 2022 © Reuters

Everyone associated with Coventry are fully justified in being disgruntled with the level of disruption that holding the Commonwealth Games rugby sevens event at their home ground has caused.

Multiple postponements have led to the Sky Blues being left three fixtures behind many of the clubs in the division at a time when the schedule is more condensed than usual.

Mark Robins will feel that their EFL Cup exit is already a blessing in disguise, but it has contributed to Coventry conceding eight times in three matches.

Having had two weeks to dwell on blowing a two-goal advantage at Millwall has not been ideal, that time also being spent watching teams accumulate an advantage in the table.

While Robins will like that his side are motivated to return to action, he knows that a lack of match sharpness could be key, and it feels a big ask of his team to go up against this Hull side at the MKM Stadium.

Hull City Championship form:

Hull City form (all competitions):

Coventry City Championship form:

Coventry City form (all competitions):

Team News

Hull City's Ryan Longman celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on January 22, 2022 © Reuters

With Ozan Tufan having sustained an injury last time out, Ryan Woods is expected to be handed an opportunity in the Hull XI.

Despite the manner of their capitulation at The Hawthorns, Arveladze may not over-react and decide to stick with the remainder of the team which started that game.

Ryan Longman, Tyler Smith and Allahyar Sayyadmanesh are all struggling for fitness ahead of this contest.

Robins will be forced into at least one change to his Coventry XI after Gustavo Hamer was sent off for two yellow cards at Millwall.

Kasey Palmer may return to the midfield in what could prove to be the only change to the team.

Hull City possible starting lineup:
Ingram; Coyle, Figueiredo, Greaves, Elder; Woods, Jones, Slater; Williams, Estupinan, Tetteh

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Panzo, McFadzean, Hyam; Dabo, Palmer, Allen, Sheaf, Bidwell; Godden, Gyokeres

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We say: Hull City 3-1 Coventry City

With Hull having conceded five times last weekend, Coventry will feel that they are returning to action against the right opponents. Nevertheless, the Tigers appear to possess one of the stronger attacks at this level, leading us to back a home victory.

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