Hull City

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Hull City captain Lewie Coyle has said it is his responsibility to keep the squad upbeat about their chances of Championship survival.

City's 1-0 home defeat at relegation rivals Derby County saw the Tigers fall into the relegation zone and one point from safety ahead of their final match of the season at Portsmouth on Saturday.

"It's my responsibility to pick the lads up when we come back in on Monday with full focus ahead to try and win the game against Portsmouth," Coyle told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I am going to make sure this next week I'm really upbeat and I'm really positive.

"Everybody is fully against us with how it now looks but not me and not this squad.

"We'll go into next week and we'll make sure we do everything we can to win the game."

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Hull City head coach Ruben Selles spoke to BBC Radio Humberside after his side was beaten 1-0 by Derby County to drop into the relegation places.

"The entire game changed when we conceded that goal and they managed the time at the end," he said.

"It was that final pass or the finishing action which we lacked. I don't think they were at any moment threatening us, we limited them to two shots and paid the price for not defending that set-piece well.

"I don't think our final product was good enough but I think we invested enough to get something from the game today.

"I think the players were as focused as they could be. The reality was the game was about one goal and in one action we lost it."

Victory for Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST) will assure them of Championship football next season, while a win for Derby could move them within sight of another campaign of second-tier football.

• Hull City have won just one of their past 11 league games against Derby (D2 L8), beating them 2-0 in October 2019.

• Derby have alternated between winning (five) and not winning (D1 L3) in their past nine away games against Hull, beating them 1-0 on their last visit in August 2021.

• Hull won their last league game against Preston, but only once this season have the Tigers won consecutive league games (three in a row in September-October).

• Having won just one of their first 18 away league games this season (D5 L12), Derby have now won two of their past four on the road (D1 L1).

• Only Luton have scored fewer goals (41) and have a lower shot conversion rate (8.3%) than Hull City in the Championship this season (43 goals, 8.6% conversion).

Image source, Rex Features

Joao Pedro hopes he can save Hull City from the drop in the final two games of the season.

The Tigers sit two places and two points ahead of the drop zone ahead of the visit of Derby, one place below, to the MKM Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST), with a trip to Portsmouth to follow on 3 May.

The 33-year-old Brazilian has scored just six goals in 33 appearances since arriving in August after spending last season on loan at Turkish side Fenerbahce from Gremio in his homeland, but hopes to finish the campaign on a high.

Speaking through an interpreter, the former Cagliari forward told BBC Radio Humberside: "I am happy, even if the season could be more productive.

"I found a club which is well organised, this league is tough but the fans are excellent, they are passionate and they support the team.

"This is exactly what I needed – a team that would enable me to put fire in my game and play beautiful football.

"The two previous seasons in Turkey and Brazil were tough - I needed this, the love to play football again."

The last of his six goals came at Bristol City on 8 March, arriving moments before he was sent-off for violent conduct and banned for three games.

Joao Pedro added: "I had no bad intentions. It's a matter of interpretation for me and the ref. I tried to protect both of us. I am sorry I affected the team, but it happens in football, it's part of the game.

"What we want the most now is to finish the season well and achieve our main goal.

"I have no doubts that we will overcome the situation with the help of teammates, leadership, the manager, the fans – together.

"We do not deserve to be in this situation. I don't fear we will have a bad ending. We will have to work hard, it will be tough, we need to improve, but I want to play some good games and save Hull City."

Joao Pedro's one-year contract expires this summer but he says it's 'too early' to think about next season, adding: "I am very happy to be here, it's early to be thinking about next season.

"It's not worth putting energy onto this because right now we are in an important time of the season, we want to finish well and I hope we can save Hull City from this delicate situation."

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Hull City's Joe Gelhardt says the Tigers must "take more risks" when they attack to help get the results they need to stay in the Championship.

Only relegation rivals Luton Town (41) have scored fewer goals than the 43 Hull have managed across 44 games this season.

Ruben Selles' side came from behind to beat Preston 2-1 on Easter Monday in what was only the ninth league match in which they've scored two or more goals.

"We want to score goals, and I think we need to take more risks in the final third sometimes," Gelhardt told BBC Radio Humberside.

"If the ball isn't in the box, you're never going to score, so at some point we know we've got to take more risks and have more shots on goal - or even crosses into the box - and flood the box."

Three of the teams below Hull - who are two points clear of the drop zone in 20th - also won on Monday, but Gelhardt says he's looking up the table.

"As long as we get the three points, it doesn't matter what's going on around us," said the Leeds loanee, who has scored three goals in 16 games since arriving in January.

"Preston were four points ahead of us; now it's one, so instead of looking down at other teams, let's look up and try and catch other teams.

"That's my perspective on it."

Hull welcome 21st-placed Derby County for what Gelhardt described as a "massive" encounter on Saturday afternoon.

"We will do everything we can this week in preparation to come back here and get the three points," he added.

"We're all fully focused on that, and we'll do what it takes."

Listen to Joe Gelghardt's interview on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City head coach Ruben Selles says the victory over Preston North End was "simply massive" in their battle to avoid relegation.

Joe Gelhardt scored two second-half penalties as the Tigers came from a goal down to defeat North End.

With three of the four teams below them winning, Hull needed this result to maintain a two-point cushion above the relegation zone.

And with just two games to go, Hull welcome Derby County - the team immediately below them - on Saturday in a pivotal match.

"I know in this part of the season things become so tight and emotional that every moment and action is crucial," Selles told BBC Radio Humberside.

"At the end it was a fantastic feeling.

"In the second half we showed what we want to be. We showed a lot of character.

"I'm happy for the boys because they have been working hard to get the points and we didn't get as many as we wanted or as we deserved but it doesn't matter right now because the attitude has always been good.

"The three points today is simply massive to keep us with the two-point advantage and gives us the belief and feeling that we have been trying to find."

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Hull City defender John Egan says the penalty decision that went against him during their 1-0 loss to Swansea City is "tough to take".

The penalty was awarded for a handball, though replays show that Zan Vipotnik's shot hit Egan in the face.

It was then converted by Vipotnik and proved to be the match winner.

"It's hard to speak because it's so raw. They were on top first half and then obviously the penalty in the second half has decided the game. The ball has hit my face so I don't know how they've given the penalty.

"I don't think the ref gave it, I think the linesman gave it. I asked him to speak to the linesman because the ball hit my face so he can't be 100% sure. They didn't want to do that. It's a tough one to take.

"To lose a game in that manner is frustrating. It's a tough loss to take. We've three huge games left now, we've got to dust ourselves down and go again."

Hull City's late leveller against Coventry City in their previous game might just prove vital to the Tigers' hopes of steering clear of the relegation battle.

That 1-1 draw keeps them three points above the bottom three but, with their vastly superior goal difference to the three teams in trouble, it's effectively four.

The Swans are on a roll, with three wins on the spin and still have a super-slim chance of sneaking into the top six.

• Swansea City have lost just one of their past nine home league games against Hull City (W3 D5), including none of their last five (W2 D3).

• After beating Swansea 2-1 in December, Hull could do the league double over them for the first time since 2016-17 in the Premier League.

• Since beating Rotherham 4-3 in 2019, Swansea are winless in their past four league games on Good Friday (D3 L1).

• Hull are unbeaten in each of their past two away league games on Good Friday (W1 D1), beating Crewe Alexandra 2-1 in 2021 and drawing 4-4 with Sunderland in 2023.

• Swansea have won each of their past three league games without conceding, the Swans last won four successive league games without conceding in March 2008.

Mike White
BBC Radio Humberside, sports editor & Hull City commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Consistently inconsistent is the best way to describe a side who haven't won back-to-back games since October under then-head coach Tim Walter, so attempting to predict how City will finish is like trying to plait fog.

The less said about the German's brief stay in East Yorkshire, the better. But they are where they are in no small part thanks to his failed attempt to conquer the English game with a style that left most scratching their heads.

Depending on what time of day you ask Tigers fans, I sense there's a cautious optimism that they will be OK and will just… emphasis on just… survive - if not from their own doing but what others may not do.

However, they shouldn't be leaving anything to chance, although I don't believe anybody inside the inner sanctum of the club will be doing that.

The biggest issue outside of a lack of consistency is a lack of goals and conceding in sloppy and familiar ways (10 of their 50 goals against have come in the opening 10 minutes after half-time).

They offer little in terms of a threat in front of goal and are the second lowest scorers in the division (41) ahead of Luton (37) - and if you're using them as a benchmark for attacking prowess this season, you're in 'clutching at straws' territory.

Hull have to go to Swansea, who are unbeaten in four and have won the their past three, before returning to their less-than-productive MKM Stadium home for an Easter Monday meeting with Preston.

The Tigers then host Derby in what currently looks like being a pivotal game depending on how this weekend shapes up.

Of course it could all be settled by that point and certainly the hope is that's the case by the time Ruben Selles' side make the long trip to Portsmouth on the final day.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City forward Abu Kamara claims he plotted his equalising goal with teammate Nordin Amrabat from the bench in the 1-1 draw against Coventry City.

Kamara and Amrabat were introduced just before the hour mark in a double substitution by head coach Ruben Selles with the Tigers a goal down following Matt Grimes' deflected opener for the Sky Blues.

With eight minutes of normal time remaining, Amrabat's pinpoint crossfield pass found Kamara in space and his curling effort towards the far corner hit Coventry defender Jay Dasilva, creeping in at the near post to earn Hull a share of the spoils.

"Me and Nordin were just having a conversation talking about how we were going to link up [before the double substitution]," Kamara told BBC Radio Humberside.

"He just said to me to make that darting run in behind the full-back, and that's how the goal came along.

"All I had to do was touch and shoot, the pass was on the money really."

Kamara's fifth league goal of the season for the Tigers saw them go three points clear of the Championship relegation zone with just four matches remaining and the 21-year-old says he remains confident about his side's survival chances.

"It feels great to be honest, coming on and playing a massive role in getting a point towards our goal is just everything to me," he added.

"I want to keep this team up and I think we're more than capable of staying up in this league."

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio Five Live reporter

Image source, Rex Features

As far as goalkeeping performances in the Championship are concerned, Ivor Pandur's for Hull against Coventry must be considered as one of the most impressive in the division this season given the high stakes for his team at this stage of the season.

Hull's poor home form is significant reason for their plight, but as Coventry laid siege to their goal at the MKM Stadium, Pandur stood tall to earn the Tigers a precious point.

The Croatian made a variety of excellent saves to keep his team in a largely one-sided contest. His positional sense and command of his area unwavering until the cruellest of deflections saw him beaten at the start the second half.

The one-man barrier maintained his composure though and as he kept the score down, Hull grabbed their unlikely late leveller.

And there was still time for one late stop - probably the best of the lot - from Milan van Eiwijk's venomous late strike.

Pandur's player-of-the-match performance suggests Hull have a goalkeeper they can rely on in the remaining four games and beyond.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, PA Media

Hull manager Ruben Selles said he has the squad to compete for Championship survival after a late goal from Abu Kamara earned the Tigers a 1-1 draw with Coventry.

Hull are three points above the relegation zone with four matches remaining and have scored just 41 goals in 42 Championship matches.

But Selles is confident of success. He told BBC Radio Humberside: "Coventry have been particularly good since Frank Lampard took over and we knew it would be a difficult game.

"We managed to be competitive, stayed in the game and created situations like the one for Kasey [Palmer] - we need to start to put those in.

"The game management we showed for the goal we conceded is something we need to stop and eradicate from our game - hopefully forever - because it's costing us points.

"The team showed character in the second half. The subs made a big impact and we managed to get the point and show we can be as competitive as anybody.

"I know what I have in my dressing room - they are competitors and doing everything for the club."

Hull City midfielder Lincoln says he would like to stay with the Tigers once his loan spell concludes at the end of the season.

The Brazilian joined in January from Turkish side Fenerbahce and has since made seven Championship appearances, playing the full 90 minutes during their loss to Watford on Tuesday.

"I like this club, I like the fans, I like everything," Lincoln told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I don't confirm this, other people decide this, but if it's possible to stay, I'll stay.

"I like too much the club, the players, the staff - it's like family."

As for what plans his parent club Fenerbahce have in store for the 26-year-old, Lincoln says he is unsure - but it's not something that's on his mind as Hull bid to save themselves from relegation with just five games remaining.

"I don't want to ask because my mind is only here," he added.

"I know it's difficult but I hope we win the five games and after they have time for a talk - but my mind, my focus is only here."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City boss Ruben Selles understands the concerns of supporters but says he cannot get caught up in the reaction to defeats.

Tigers fans were particularly critical after their 1-0 defeat by Watford in the Championship on Tuesday left them only two points above the relegation zone with five games remaining.

"I understand the fans concerns in terms of the position we are in and the time of season it is," Selles told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It's not my job to be concerned about that, my job is to make this team competitive and try to compete every game which is the only way we can win football matches."

The former Reading head coach replaced Tim Walter at the MKM Stadium in December and has overseen eight wins from 23 league games.

"I have not seen my team be outplayed by anybody - we have played some decent games and we will continue working" said Selles.

"We need to keep working on the things we do and give the boys more solutions, especially in the final third - we know the points where we need to be better but it's not a magic formula."

Hull City meet Coventry City in the Championship on Monday 14 April.