One of the most interesting encounters in this weekend's Championship calendar will take place at the KCOM Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Hull City welcome Fulham.
Hull sit just two points outside of the playoffs ahead of the encounter with the Cottagers, who occupy fifth position with 42 points to show from their 26 league matches during the 2019-20 campaign.
Match preview
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Relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, Hull have finished 18th and 13th in their last two Championship seasons. The Tigers are going well in the second tier this term, though, and currently sit just two points outside of the top six in the Championship table.
A record of 11 wins, six draws and nine defeats from 26 matches has seen them collect 39 points, while they will enter this weekend's match off the back of three straight wins in all competitions.
Indeed, in addition to overcoming Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday in their last two Championship encounters, Hull beat Rotherham United in the third round of the FA Cup last weekend.
Grant McCann's side have actually only lost one of their last five in the Championship, and in Jarrod Bowen boast one of the best players outside of the Premier League. Indeed, the 23-year-old, who has previously been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, has scored 17 times in 28 appearances at club level this term.
The Tigers have only won one of their last four games against Fulham in all competitions, though, and the points were shared in a 2-2 draw when they last locked horns at the KCOM Stadium in December 2017.
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As for Fulham, Scott Parker's side are very much in the playoff argument at the moment having picked up 42 points from their 26 Championship matches this season to occupy fifth spot in the table.
The capital club are 10 points off second-placed West Bromwich Albion, though, suggesting that they will be unable to challenge for an automatic return to England's top flight.
There are actually only three points between Fulham and 10th-placed Preston North End, meaning that a couple of poor results could quickly see the Cottagers slip down the division.
Parker's side will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 win over Aston Villa in the FA Cup, but they lost their last Championship match at home to Reading on New Year's Day.
No player has scored more Championship goals than Aleksandar Mitrovic this season, though, and the centre-forward will be looking to add to his total of 18 at the KCOM Stadium this weekend.
Hull Championship form: LDWLWW
Hull form (all competitions): DWLWWW
Fulham Championship form: LLWDWL
Fulham form (all competitions): LWDWLW
Team News
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On-loan Liverpool midfielder Herbie Kane is battling to make the Hull XI having been involved in last weekend's FA Cup clash with Rotherham, but the home side still have a host of injury problems.
Indeed, Angus MacDonald, Jon Toral, Norbert Balogh, Josh Magennis, Kevin Stewart, Callum Elder and Stephen Kingsley are all still on the sidelines for the Tigers.
Matthew Pennington is again expected to start at right-back, while Tom Eaves should feature at the tip of the attack, just ahead of Jackson Irvine.
As for Fulham, Maxime Le Marchand and Tom Cairney are both unavailable through injury, while Harrison Reed is a doubt for the visitors, meaning that Harry Arter could start in midfield.
Michael Hector should also keep his spot having impressed on his debut against Villa last weekend, while Bobby Reid and Mitrovic are both expected to return to the starting XI for Parker's team.
Hull possible starting lineup:
Long; Pennington, Burke, Wijs, Lichaj; Grosicki, Lopes, Kane, Bowen; Irvine; Eaves
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Christie, Hector, Ream, Bryan; Arter, Johansen; Knockaert, Reid, Cavaleiro; Mitrovic
We say: Hull 1-1 Fulham
Hull will enter the match in the better form, while Fulham are without a victory in their last three away from home in the Championship. The Tigers have a lengthy injury list at the moment, though, and we expect the visitors to secure a share of the spoils on Saturday afternoon.
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