Hull City

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Hull City first-team coach Andy Dawson says new boss Ruben Selles is making good first impressions after the Spaniard's appointment on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

Former Tigers left-back Dawson was in charge for their previous two Championship matches as interim head coach after Tim Walter's sacking and has been impressed by the 41-year-old's demeanour since his arrival from Reading.

"He's brilliant, he's been in the same position as what I've been in the last 10 days," Dawson told BBC Radio Humberside.

"He's respectful, he certainly brings a freshness, he's a very humble guy from what I've seen and again very personable, which is massive for staff and players."

Selles was in the stands on Saturday to watch his new side's 1-0 defeat at home by Blackburn Rovers which was the Tigers' sixth defeat in a row and plunged them to the bottom of the table.

Dawson believes Selles has a lot to work with, however, as he aims to pick his side up from the floor, starting with Wednesday night's Championship home game against Watford.

"If you get to December and you're bottom of the table, of course it's a big task," Dawson added.

"That's the reality of where we are but when you start to dissect things with a clear mind - have we given Middlesbrough a game? Absolutely. Have we gone toe-to-toe with Blackburn, sixth? Absolutely.

"I think he'll have seen a side with a lot of natural ability in it.

"There's a lot that goes into getting players in the right mind space and in a position where they feel they can go and express themselves - that's the first impression we've certainly seen from the gaffer".

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Results across the weekend saw Hull City drop to the foot of the Championship table and new boss Ruben Selles will be on the touchline for the first time on Wednesday night.

The Tigers have failed to win any of their past six home games and are on a six match losing streak in the league.

If Watford's away form came anywhere near their home results they would be a lot closer to the automatic promotion spots let alone the top six.

The Hornets' return of seven points from their nine away games is the lowest in the top 15 of the Championship.

• Hull City have lost just three of their past 13 league games against Watford (W6 D4), keeping a clean sheet in four of their past five such matches.

• Watford have won two of their past four away league games against Hull City (L2), as many victories as across their prior 17 such fixtures combined beforehand (D6 L9).

• Hull have failed to win any of their past five home league games played in midweek (D3 L2 – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), their longest such run between August 2017 and November 2018 (nine matches).

• Watford have won just one of their past 10 league games played in midweek (D3 L6 – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), though that sole victory did come during their past such match against Bristol City last month (1-0).

• Watford won their past away league game against a side from Yorkshire 6-2 against Sheffield Wednesday last month, scoring as many goals in that match as across their prior 10 such matches combined beforehand.

Mike White
BBC Radio Humberside sport editor

Image source, Rex Features

This will be largely viewed as a positive and progressive appointment by Hull City, who need something to lift them from the despair of being in the bottom three and the stench of the failed Tim Walter experiment.

Selles was touted by a number of pundits and fans as the obvious choice given the impressive job he's done at Reading under increasingly challenging circumstances, and he should walk away from the Berkshire club with his head held high, even if he knows he's leaving the Royals still in a potentially perilous predicament off the field.

Thankfully, that's not the situation he's coming into with the Tigers but he still needs to make a relatively swift impact with a side whose winless run hit double figures in the post-Walter loss at Middlesbrough.

Although there were at least encouraging signs in that game that the players appeared to be playing with a little more freedom and a greater degree of confidence and positivity.

That was aided in no small part by interim boss Andy Dawson, who once again has shown a level of class and composure, a true calming influence, that has earned him respect from those he works with directly as well as fans and others around the club.

As for Selles, known for being supportive of his players, whilst giving them the freedom to express themselves, it will be music to the ears of regular City followers that, based on past interviews he's given, there is always a 'plan B'.

The "football philosophy" they frustratingly and repeatedly heard so much about under Tim Walter, and some might argue even the German's predecessor Liam Rosenior, will seemingly not be allowed to get in the way of reacting to changing situations in a game when things aren't going the way you'd want.

Selles will watch on from the stands as Dawson takes charge of the team at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday before the new boss steps in ahead of Wednesday's game with Watford at the MKM Stadium.

That might give him some idea of the task at hand and, with January around the corner, he'll know the likelihood of reinforcements can help to shape his squad for what could be a pivotal second half of the season.

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Managerless Hull head into their home clash against Blackburn seeking to avoid a sixth successive defeat - something they have not experienced since the end of the 2019/20 season, when they were relegated from the Championship.

The Tigers, who sacked Tim Walter just over a week ago, have gleaned just three points from their last 10 games but could climb out of the bottom three with a much-needed victory.

However, they face a Rovers side who cross the Pennines in good form after winning three games in a row, including victories over promotion contenders Middlesbrough and Leeds - and could climb into the top six themselves with another three points at the MKM Stadium.

● Hull City won both of their league games against Blackburn Rovers last season and will be looking to win three in succession for the first time in this fixture's history which was first contested back in August 1949.

● Blackburn have won three of their last five away league games against Hull City (L2), with each of those victories coming via a 1-0 score line.

● Hull are winless in their last 10 league games (D3 L7), losing the last five in a row. They last had a longer league losing streak in July 2020 (6).

● After a run of four games without a win (D1 L3), Blackburn have won each of their last three league games; they last won four in a row in March 2023.

● Only Plymouth (14) have conceded the opening goal in more Championship games this season than Hull City (13), losing each of their last seven games in the competition in which they've done so.

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Hull City forward Mason Burstow has admitted his relationship with ex-boss Tim Walter became so strained he felt like "giving up".

Burstow scored his first goal for the club in the Tigers' 3-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on Saturday, the game that immediately followed Walter's dismissal.

The Chelsea loanee claimed he tried to speak to Walter about a lack of game time during the early stage of the season but did not receive clarification as to why he was often left out of the side.

"I tried to speak to him a couple of times about playing time and what I can work on to get in the side because I felt like I trained well every day," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It was one of those things where I wasn’t really getting anything back so you almost had the feeling of giving up - it was difficult."

The 21-year-old started just two Championship matches under Walter before the German was sacked last week following a 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

"Its tough because I felt like it was unnatural," he added.

"Coming through youth academies you always felt like you could speak to a staff member, you felt like you could get your points across - it was probably the first time I felt like I couldn’t."

The England Under-20 international added that his relationship with new interim boss Andy Dawson is more positive, however.

"Since they've come in, him and Erb [goalkeeping coach Erbil Bozkurt] have been two people we feel like we can speak to," said Burstow.

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It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

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Hull City interim boss Andy Dawson has stated he aims to bring things back to basics following the sacking of Tim Walter on Wednesday.

Dawson takes the Tigers to Middlesbrough on Saturday lunchtime in his second stint as interim manager as they look to end a run of 10 matches without victory.

"It’ll always be basics - basics will always help you win a game of football," the 46-year-old told BBC Radio Humberside.

"That will always be an important value that you have to live by every single day, but actually basics make brilliance as well.

"If we can do that one to a 11, plus the subs, plus the people that aren’t in the squad, all buying into the importance of the end goal which is results there’s no reason why we can’t [climb the table]."

The Tigers have no fresh injury concerns but will be without Charlie Hughes for their trip to Teeside after the defender picked up his fifth booking in Tuesday's defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

Dawson also confirmed under-23 coach Conor Sellars and U21 assistant manager Billy Clarke will make up his backroom staff for Saturday's game at the Riverside.

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Hull City announced that they had dismissed head coach Tim Walter on Wednesday after just 18 games in charge.

The Tigers are currently 22nd on the Championship table and at risk of relegation, though they finished seventh at the end of last season's campaign under former boss Liam Rosenior who was sacked in May for failing to make the play-offs.

Tuesday night's 2-0 loss to Sheffield Wednesday seemed to be the final straw for owner Acun Ilicali - though prior to the match, he had claimed in a BBC Radio Humberside interview that a bad result would not endanger the German's job.

As for the fans, well it seems that many of you are not too aggrieved to say auf wiedersehen to your latest manager.

Williams: Hate calling for managers to go but it's been awful and progressively getting worse. It was not ever going to be a long term solution. Right decision to move on. Let's provide some stability to claw back a terrible season start.

Ridgway: He should have gone before the last international break and given the new manager more time (and points) to work with.

There are those of you who are still feeling sore following the controversial sacking of Rosenior.

Jeremy: Those who opposed the sacking of Rosenior will be saying quite rightly "I told you so" to the club's owners.

Karen: Shouldn't have sacked Rosenior. Losing five important players in Delap, Greaves, Morton, Carvalho and Philogene certainly hasn't helped, but keeping Rosenior may have resulted in their clubs allowing Hull to take more players on loan. Any upheaval in a team removes confidence and affects transfer options.

But Walter does still have some supporters among the Tiger's fans who feel that his reign was just too short to make an impact.

Debee: Thomas Franks first 10 games in charge… W 1 D 1 L 8 why don’t owners learn from this?

An offbeat view: Not the same team but Alex Ferguson took seven years to win the title. He was very nearly sacked. Clubs simply don't give managers the time to build a team these days. They expect instant success, a quick wave of a magic wand and there you go.

As for who you would like next, there's been many ideas floating around with recently available names such as ex-Coventry City boss Mark Robins and Steve Cooper, who took Nottingham Forest to the Premier League, being among them.

Mighty Tigers: At least they have done it now and not in January. Gives time to get a new manager in and some good loan deals identified ready for the transfer window. Mark Robins would be a good shout but not sure he will come. Could actually just give the role to Andy Dawson, a long term servant who knows the club and players well.

Steven: Well. Cooper is available and you could do worse than him. Times change, Hull were once a really well run club and seemed to do well. Now languishing in the wrong end of the Championship it's time to act so it's a good time but nobody should take pleasure in someone losing their job.

Mike White
BBC Radio Humberside sport editor

Image source, Rex Features

After just 17 league games and one abject Carabao Cup defeat, Tim Walter's time in East Yorkshire is over before it ever got going.

Hull have secured just three wins all season and have lost the past four to leave them in the bottom three. The term "sleepwalking towards relegation" has been used on more than one occasion by fans and pundits alike.

Walter had boldly proclaimed that "nobody is playing my way", which is a lofty perch to place yourself on but only creates an even bigger and harder fall if it doesn't pay off - and it hasn't.

The "progressive" playing style is one that has had fans scratching their heads in a confused state since day one and there have been too many times when the players appeared to feel that way as well.

Plus, he has increasingly alienated himself from many of the supporters with various public comments and actions that have only incensed an already anxious and edgy fanbase.

"Walterball" did not produce exciting, high-energy, high-intensity play and 17 goals from 18 games was not as advertised, leaving many still questioning owner Acun Ilicali's decision to part ways with Liam Rosenior in May after a seventh-placed finish.

Of course, that wasn't all plain sailing either as the results and many performances in the second half of last season fell way short, but Rosenior had galvanised the club on and off the field and was seemingly influential when it came to attracting players like Liam Delap, Jaden Philogene and Fabio Carvalho.

However, City's owner chose to tear it all down and go again with a manager/head coach who was unproven in one of the toughest leagues in football and having only experienced moderate success in his native Germany.

It should be said Walter was not the only one to blame in all of this. The summer recruitment was simply not good enough and they have been left with a squad lacking in some key areas, and they have been toothless in attack as a result.

However, a persistence with a "philosophy" that was not producing the required results has ultimately led to the end of a short and disappointing spell for Walter.

If the spotlight was on Ilicali following his last managerial change, the focus and scrutiny has just ramped up even further for the Turkish media mogul to get the next one right with the worrying but all-too-real possibility of this team being in a relegation fight.

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BBC Radio Humberside reports that the Hull City have held a board meeting this morning to discuss the future of boss Tim Walter.

The Tigers slipped to a 2-0 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night and are now winless in nine matches.

The German took over from Liam Rosenior in May but has won just three of his 17 league games in charge.

Speaking before the reverse to the Owls, owner Acun Ilicali had told the station that he would not sack Walter regardless of the result and asked for patience.

However, the Tigers were booed off by the home fans that remained at the MKM Stadium at full-time and they have won only one of their nine games in front of their own supporters this season.