Hull City

Hull City boss Ruben Selles says the relegation battle is "in their hands" despite fellow strugglers Luton Town and Derby County both beginning to find form.

Luton are unbeaten in three league games (W2 D1), whilst Derby have four straight wins.

The Tigers, on the other hand, saw their undefeated run of four games (W2 D2) come to an end with a loss to the Hatters last time out.

"We always say that we don't need to have an eye on the other ones, we need to do our jobs. Obviously when we don't win our game, it becomes more speculation about what the others do and the other ones are winning," Selles told BBC Radio Humberside.

"Luton beat us. Derby have won four in a row, which is unbelievable for a team in that place.

"We are still in the position where we control our own future and that's the mentality we need to keep working with. Again, we are in the same position where it depends on us."

However, with Hull only one point above the drop zone and a difficult trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, the Spaniard is determined not to get caught up in outside noise.

"Everything is relative. It's not the pressure," Selles added. "If we had won the last couple of matches, we'd be in a different situation.

"We know we've been competitive every single game and we need to keep trying to be that competitive, and try to keep pushing forward and try to not speculate."

Listen to the full pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds.

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Hull City head coach Ruben Selles was left frustrated by the manner of his side's home loss to Luton Town.

Alfie Jones' freak own goal 11 seconds into the second half decided the match, but it was the Tigers' limp reaction to that moment of bad luck which caused the Spaniard such disappointment.

"You can lose matches, that can happen. I'm more disappointed in our reaction after going 1-0 down," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"The goal was an action we can avoid, but it took us more than 30 minutes to react and start to build up the pitch and put them under pressure.

"We lost a little bit of our identity in these moments. I'm disappointed because I expect my team to come back quicker and put the opposition on the back foot and under pressure a bit more."

The result now leaves Hull in 20th and only three points clear of the drop zone with seven matches to play.

Luton Town make the trip to fellow strugglers Hull City on Saturday lunch time (12:30 GMT) as they look for much needed points.

The Hatters currently reside in the relegation zone, four points away from safety and with only bottom dwellers Plymouth Argyle with a lower goal difference.

All three points will prove mighty beneficial to Luton, but they will need to defeat a Tigers side that have not lost any of their past four league games (W2 D2) and looking to clear away from the threat of relegation themselves.

• Hull City are winless across their prior six league games against Luton Town (D1 L5), scoring just one goal in total across that time.

• Luton Town are unbeaten across their last five away league games against Hull City (W4 D1), keeping four clean sheets in the process.

• Hull are unbeaten across their last four league games (W2 D2), the Tigers' longest streak since a six-game spell in April 2024.

• Luton have won two of their last four league games (D1 L1), as many victories as across their prior 18 matches combined (D4 L12).

• Luton's Carlton Morris has won more aerial duels than any other player in the Championship this season (177), though has also lost more aerial duels than any other player in the competition too (171).

Hull City defender Cody Drameh has returned to training as the Tigers prepare to host fellow relegation-threatened rivals Luton Town in Saturday's early kick-off (12:30 GMT).

Drameh has missed the past two league games with a knee injury but is expected to return for the weekend.

As is the case for midfielder Kasey Palmer, who was unable to travel with Jamaica during international break due to an ankle issue.

"It wasn't anything major but we decided with the support of the Jamaican federation to keep him out of that call and give him the week to be able to train," Selles told BBC Radio Humberside.

"He's good for this weekend."

The international break has not just been beneficial for Palmer, Selles believes that the week away from the Championship has revitalised his squad.

"They have been looking really fresh, really well," Selles added. "They got what they needed from that period away from us.

"That period off the pitch or off from the usual dynamic, gives them the perception of being more fresh, wanting train and do more things."

Listen to the full pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City midfielder Kasey Palmer said he is relieved to be back playing and contributing to the Tiger's battle to avoid relegation from the Championship.

The 28-year-old was credited with an assist for Abu Kamara's goal in their 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, having returned to Ruben Selles' team at the start of the month after recovering from an ankle injury picked up in December.

"It was frustrating to pick up the injury in just the manager's second or third game, and missing two or three months wasn't easy, especially with where the team was in the league," Palmer told BBC Radio Humberside.

'"I'm just buzzing to be back and to be able to contribute with us getting points and to get us to safety."

The Jamaican international joined Hull from Coventry City for an undisclosed fee in August, and said that having taken seven points from their past three games, a break for the internationals fixtures is not ideal.

"It's probably a bad time for us to be having a break with the results we are picking-up lately, but I think everyone needs a break, although the manager will be on us to make sure we're not coasting.

"He's rejuvenated us and the results are starting to come. The group has really come together and it's going to be an interesting end to the season. Hopefully, we can look up rather than down."

Hull City, who are currently 19th and three points above the relegation zone, are next in action on 29 March when they host fellow strugglers Luton Town.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City boss Ruben Selles spoke to BBC Radio Humberside after his side's 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

"West Brom are a really good team and a really tough opponent and I think we were as competitive as them today.

"They were more in control in the first half and we were suffering in some defensive moments but we came back in the second half even though we conceded a goal and we ended the game creating chances.

"I think it was a fair point. We could have lost it but we could have won it. We'll take the point and move forward.

"The substitutions gave us something different. The squad wants to work together and everyone is giving everything."

West Bromwich Albion will look to strengthen their position in a play off spot as they host Hull City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Baggies are currently in fifth, level on points with sixth placed Coventry City, but could see themselves pushed out the top six if both the Sky Blues and Bristol City take victory.

Meanwhile, Hull City are clear of the relegation zone by just five points and will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to a fourth successive game.

• West Bromwich Albion have won eight of their last 10 league meetings with Hull City (D1 L1), beating the Tigers 2-1 earlier this season.

• Hull have lost each of their last seven league visits to West Brom, conceding 20 goals across those defeats. Their last win at the Hawthorns came in October 2008 in the Premier League (3-0).

• West Brom have won seven of their last nine home league games (D1 L1) and have lost just one of their last 14 at the Hawthorns (W7 D6).

• There were just 90 seconds between Joao Pedro giving Hull the lead and getting sent off against Bristol City on Saturday in Hull's last away league game. He became the first player to start a Championship game (since 2004-05), score a goal and get sent off inside the opening 14 minutes of a match.

• West Brom's Adam Armstrong has been involved in six goals in his last seven home Championship starts (4 goals, 2 assists).

Image source, Getty Images

Hull boss Ruben Selles spoke to BBC Radio Humberside after Wednesday's 2-1 win against Oxford United.

"Oxford is a good opponent and it was difficult to break them in the first half," he said.

"The goal came when we were just about to make substitutions, but I think our substitutions were brilliant.

"The game completely changed when we had the unpredictability of Kasey [Palmer], Mason [Burstow] on the left side giving us something different and Regan [Slater] in the middle.

"We fought really hard, it's always difficult to win those games but I'm proud of the character that the team showed."

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City have proved they can compete with anyone in the Championship, says boss Ruben Selles.

The Tigers have pulled themselves five points clear of the relegation zone with a run of just one defeat from their past five games.

"Our competitiveness is even bigger - everyone wants to play together and to compete because they know they can compete against anyone and everyone is looking forward to the next game," Selles told BBC Radio Humberside ahead of the home game against Oxford United on Wednesday.

"I don't think of it as one defeat from five, I just think it's a good thing the team is more competitive.

"I am pleased with the performances we are putting in every game and I think we are able to be more consistent in what we do."

Hull drew 1-1 at Bristol City at the weekend, having beaten Plymouth last Tuesday for their first home victory in two-and-a-half months, but Selles is refusing to get carried away.

"I don't look at the fixtures and who other teams are playing - we have Oxford in front of us and our task is to try to beat them and that's all I spend my energy on, not on speculation," he said.

Hull City will have the chance to overtake relegation rivals Oxford United when they host the U's at the MKM Stadium on Wednesday (19:45 GMT).

Oxford have not won in eight games to see themselves only seven points above the relegation zone.

While the Tigers won against Plymouth Argyle before picking up a point from play off chasing Bristol City on Saturday to get to just two points shy of the U's.

Though Oxford won the reverse fixture 1-0 in November, this will be the first meeting under new bosses Gary Rowett (Oxford) and Ruben Selles (Hull) this season.

• Hull City are unbeaten across their last eight home league games against Oxford United (W5 D3), winning their last home fixture against the U's in March 2021 2-0 in League One.

• After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 in November, Oxford United will be looking to record a first league double over Hull City since the 1988-89 season.

• After beating Plymouth Argyle 2-0, Hull are looking to win successive home league games for the first time since November 2023 (run of 3).

• Oxford have failed to win, or score, in their last two midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (D1 L1), having won three of their previous four matches prior.

• Hull are winless in their last eight Championship games against newly promoted sides (D4 L4) since a 4-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday in August 2023.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City boss Ruben Selles said midfielder Eliot Matazo has undergone successful surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Speaking after his side's 1-1 draw at Bristol City on Saturday, Selles was upbeat about the operation but confirmed the midfielder will be unavailable for selection until the end of the season.

"He had his operation on Thursday afternoon and evening - the operation has gone really well," Selles told BBC Radio Humberside.

"He is in Amsterdam, where we plan for him to have the first part of his rehab."

Matazo moved to the MKM Stadium in the winter transfer window from Monaco and suffered the injury just 20 minutes into last month's defeat at Cardiff City.

"I think it is a period until the end of the season he is going to be there [in rehab], so probably the beginning of pre-season," Selles replied when probed on Matazo's expected return date.

Hull City striker Joao Pedro had a brief but very eventful afternoon of Championship action against Bristol City.

The 32-year-old played a key role in the Tigers' dominant start at Ashton Gate, and deservedly put them ahead on 13 minutes.

But his joy was short-lived...

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Defender Sean McLoughlin wants Hull City to show they are too good for the lower reaches of the Championship in their final 11 games of the season.

The 28-year-old - deployed at left-back of late by Ruben Selles - helped set up the opening goal as the Tigers beat Plymouth Argyle 2-0 on Tuesday to end a six-match winless streak at home in all competitions.

"Obviously, we haven't been great at home this season, it's been frustrating for everybody, for us, for the fans," McLoughlin told BBC Radio Humberside:

"It was important that we got that win, a clean sheet and a good performance.

"It was a game we knew going into that it was a massive one we needed to win. It puts a bit of breathing space between us and the bottom three. The main thing for us is kicking on and following that result up."

The Tigers took one point from their final two games last season to finish seventh and miss the play-offs, leading to Liam Rosenior's departure and a turbulent campaign in the lower reaches of the table this term.

"We need to just consistently train well, keep our minds focused, and the results will come," McLoughlin said.

"We've had some massive results in recent weeks, obviously some disappointing ones too, but I think people can see the quality is there.

"We showed the other night we shouldn't be down that end of the table. The reality is we are there."

He added: "It's obviously been a frustrating season for everybody – especially coming off the back of last season. It's not somewhere we want to be, the position we find ourselves in, but that's the Championship, teams fluctuate.

"Consistency is the main thing. You can see what one good result does to the table.

"If we can follow that up with another three points we'll start to put a bit of daylight between us and the teams below. If we can be consistent until the end of the season I think we'll finish in a good place."

Hull City will be boosted by the return of midfielder Matt Crooks for their visit to Bristol City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The 31-year-old has started five games since joining in January from US side Real Salt Lake, but missed out on last week's win against Plymouth Argyle with a facial injury.

Crooks has scored twice in his eight appearances for the Tigers, his first coming six minutes into their 3-0 victory over promotion-chasing Sheffield United in January.

"We don't make excuses but Crooks has been a very important player for us since he arrived," Tigers boss Ruben Selles told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It's not only his presence, it's also the way that he does things. Now we are fortunate that we have a group of players working in the same direction."

The trip to Ashton Gate could also mark a 250th club appearance for former Robins midfielder Kasey Palmer, who spent three-and-a-half years in the West Country before moving on to Coventry and then Hull.

"I think Kasey is very experienced at this level," Selles said. "He knows British football much better than I do and he knows how to play those moments.

"To have a player with those characteristics in our squad for the last two months is massive.

"That's as massive as having a player like Matt Crooks."