Hull City

Preston North End welcome Hull City to Deepdale for a key clash in the bottom half of the table.

Ruben Selles takes charge of his fourth game for the Tigers as he looks to build on Saturday's victory when Hull beat Swansea City.

Visitors Preston are 18th in the Championship table and four points better off than Hull, but with just one win in their past five games.

• Preston North End have not scored in any of their last four league games against Hull City, although they have also only conceded one goal themselves during that time (D3 L1).

• The last two league games between Preston and Hull at Deepdale have ended goalless, more than in the first 30 games between the sides in Preston (one in 1983).

• Preston North End won on Boxing Day last year against Leeds United, beating them 2-1. They last won on consecutive years on December 26 in 2013 (1-0 vs. Carlisle) and 2014 (1-0 vs. Barnsley).

• Hull's only win in their last six Boxing Day matches was away at Preston back in 2018 under Nigel Adkins (D2 L3).

• Preston's Paul Heckingbottom is unbeaten in his last three league meetings with Hull (W2 D1) since losing 1-0 with Barnsley in October 2017.

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Hull City boss Ruben Selles has admitted he was "hard" on his side during half-time on Saturday in the Tigers' 2-1 victory over Swansea City.

Mason Burstow's goal 10 minutes from time gave Hull their first win in 13 matches and lifted Selles' new side out of the relegation zone.

"I think I was pretty hard on them, but we are learning to cope with each other and the way we navigate through situations," Selles told BBC Radio Humberside ahead of Hull's Boxing Day fixture at Preston North End.

"But they know now that there are some non-negotiables that we need to do and we need to do no matter what is the score, we need to be ourselves - that is the most important thing for me."

The 41-year-old also hinted that the Tigers would be looking to sign a new midfielder in January after Kasey Palmer limped off during Hull's defeat at Coventry on 14 December with an injury which looks likely to keep him out for the foreseeable future.

"When we know what we are looking for, if it is going to be more than six weeks, I think that can be something to consider in the market, yes," Selles added.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Josh Tymon heads home to Hull this weekend believing there is more to come from him at Swansea City this season.

Tymon has featured in every Swansea game in 2024-25 bar the win over Watford in early November, when he was missing through suspension.

The left-back has nailed down a regular place under Luke Williams – but wants to bring more to the Swansea side as the campaign goes on, beginning with Saturday's Championship game against the Tigers.

Tymon described his form this season as a "bit of a mixed bag", adding: "I haven't really been at my best at times. Some games I've looked my best and then dipped off.

"One of my biggest strengths is to put good quality into the box for our forward players and, at times this season, it has not been there.

"I am always working on my defensive stuff which has got a lot better since last season. But I have to keep on working."

Tymon, 25, arrived at Swansea from Stoke City in the summer of 2023, six years after joining the Potters from Hull City.

Born and raised in Hull, Tymon signed for his local club at the age of 12 and made his senior Tigers debut when aged just 16.

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He made 14 appearances for Hull - including five in the Premier League - before leaving for Stoke, and says a trip back to Humberside is always a special game.

"It's the place where I was born and a lot of my family still are now," he said.

"I spent a long time at the club, right through the academy to being the lucky one to make my debut there.

"I always look for this fixture when it comes around, more so because of how many tickets I will have to find."

Tymon has he enjoyed his returns to Hull, having won there twice with Stoke and again with Swansea last season.

"As players going back to get former clubs, you get some sort of abuse," he said.

"That's part of football. You can either fold or you can embrace it.

"Luckily for me I have been on winning sides every time I have been back there, so it's a nice feeling. I want to see Hull doing well but obviously when I am playing them, I want to do the best for my team."

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Hull City midfielder Kasey Palmer has had tests and a scan on an ankle injury - but head coach Ruben Selles is hopeful he could be fit to play against Swansea in the Championship on Saturday.

The Jamaica international was forced off in the second half of last weekend's 2-1 defeat by Coventry.

"On Monday the pain in the ankle was still there so he's had some tests, a scan and seen a specialist - we are hoping he could be back on the grass," Selles told BBC Radio Humberside.

"There's a suggestion there could be something more serious, that's why we need to be pretty sure what the next step is because sometimes you can carry on and play and sometimes you need time off, so that's why we are seeing a specialist."

Palmer joined the Tigers from Coventry for an undisclosed fee in August and has scored one goal in eight league starts.

"Kasey is a good player for the level but we can't make excuses and if he's not ready somebody will step onto the pitch ready to fight for the team," added Selles.

Hull City are bottom of the Championship, with Selles replacing Tim Walter as head coach earlier this month.

Bottom side Hull City are still searching for their first win under new boss Ruben Selles following a 1-1 draw with Watford and a 2-1 defeat at Coventry.

The Tigers are two points from safety but have played a game more than three of the four sides above them - and two more than Portsmouth.

Swansea, who are 10th, have lost just one of their past five (W2 D2) and are seven points behind the play-off spots heading into the weekend.

• Hull City have won just one of their past nine league games against Swansea City (D5 L3) and have failed to win any of their past four against the Welsh side.

• Swansea have won just one of their past six away league games against Hull City (D2 L3), though it did come on their most recent visit in February 2024 during a 1-0 success.

• Hull have failed to win any of their past 13 league games (D4 L9) and the Tigers last endured a longer run between March and August 2002 when they were in the fourth tier (15 games).

• Swansea have failed to win any of their past three league games against sides from Yorkshire (D1 L2), the club's longest streak since a run of six matches between January and September 2022.

• Swansea are the only side in the Championship so far this season not to score a headed goal, while Hull have conceded the most headed goals (7).

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Swansea City will find a familiar face to welcome them at the MKM Stadium when they travel to play Hull City in Saturday's early Championship game, which kicks off at 12:30 GMT.

Former winger Jason Price played for both clubs during his career and the now 47-year-old will be part of the Tigers' match hospitality for the game.

The Aberdare native took his first steps as a professional with the Swans as a 17-year-old, signing with them in July 1995 from amateur side Aberaman where he had been playing after being released by Cardiff City.

Price made 177 appearances - scoring 20 goals - in six years at the club, earning his place in club folklore for his part in their 1999-2000 old Third Division title-winning campaign under John Hollins.

Swansea needed just a draw on the final day at Rotherham to clinch the title, with Price winning the penalty that Matthew Bound converted in a 1-1 draw.

Sadly, the game will also be remembered for the death of Swansea fan Terry Coles who was trampled by a police horse.

Price also has a warm place in the hearts of Hull fans, joining them in July 2003 after spells at Brentford and Tranmere Rovers, playing a key role in a double promotion with the Tigers that took them from the fourth tier to the second tier.

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Ruben Selles' versatility as a coach will help him with his "big challenge" at Hull City, says BBC EFL pundit Jobi McAnuff.

Selles has swapped League One Reading for the MKM Stadium and former Royals midfielder McAnuff told BBC 5 Live's Football Daily 72+ podcast the switch comes with an immediate ramp-up in pressure.

Selles had taken the Royals to sixth in the table amid considerable upheaval behind the scenes following a number of failed takeover attempts and an EFL transfer embargo limiting his recruitment.

The Spaniard had also secured survival last term after a series of points deductions.

"I think it will be a big difference - with the greatest respect to how well he did at Reading, there wasn't a lot of pressure and expectation because of everything that was going on off the pitch. He went and delivered but I think Hull is a different story," McAnuff said.

"What I liked about Selles at Reading, he went in with a way of playing, that 4-2-2-2, it didn't work and he changed it - he wasn't afraid to say 'this isn't working with the players I have got'.

"From that point of view, as a young coach being able to adapt, see what the talent and the qualities are in that squad, and going to put a team together to get results is something he has done and is going to need to do with Hull City at the moment.

"It's a big challenge but he certainly deserves it. They have got a young coach who's hungry and really wants to go and prove himself at that level."

Selles, 41, oversaw a 1-1 draw against Watford on Wednesday and takes City to Coventry City on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Coventry welcome Hull City on Saturday as two new head coaches face off in an important clash in the bottom half of the Championship.

Sky Blues boss Frank Lampard tasted defeat for the first time in a 2-0 loss at West Brom on Wednesday night, while the Tigers drew 1-1 with Watford in Ruben Selles' first game in charge.

Hull are rooted to the foot of the table but are just one point from safety and Coventry are four points above the drop zone.

• Coventry City have failed to win any of their past five league games against Hull City (D2 L3), with those matches seeing 16 goals scored between the two sides combined.

• Hull City have won on four of their past five league trips to Coventry (D1), one more win than in their prior 12 such visits (D4 L5).

• Coventry have conceded two goals in each of their past five home league games (W1 D2 L2), only in November 1967 (6) have the Sky Blues conceded 2+ goals at home in a longer run of league matches.

• Hull are winless in their past five away league games (D1 L4), conceding 10 goals during that run (2 per game).

• Coventry have conceded 32 home league goals in 2024, their most since 2015 (also 32), last conceding more in 2013 (38). Their average goals conceded per game on home soil in 2024 is their worst (1.68) since their first ever year in the English Football League in 1919 (1.73 per game).

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Hull City striker Chris Bedia believes that the team is 'close' to ending their long winless run.

They drew 1-1 with Watford in Ruben Selles' first game in charge after losing their previous six.

But the point keeps them bottom of the Championship, while they are now 22 matches without a victory.

"We are very, very close," Bedia told BBC Radio Humberside. "I see the energy in the dressing room - everyone supports everyone; we're all together; everyone believes.

"If everyone believes, we will get there."

On loan Ivory Coast striker Bedia, 28, grabbed his third Hull goal, but a late Rocco Vata equaliser denied them a debut win for Selles.

"We worked more tactically," said Bedia. "The coach knows there are a lot of good, quality players in the team, so we worked more on tactics in the last two days."

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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.