Image source, Rex Features

Cardiff have the ball in the net through Joe Bennett, but the flag is up.

The ball came to him after bumping off the leg of a team-mate and he was so far offside in the build-up to it that he was in a different postcode to where the ball had come from.

Image source, Rex Features

With less than 10 minutes to go until the break, Nigel Adkins will be the happier of the two managers.

There is nothing to separate the sides - Hull have had the best chance when Nouha Dicko hit the post, while Tigers goalkeeper Allan McGregor was equal to a Lee Tomlin shot from the edge of the box.

Lee Tomlin has the first proper shot for Cardiff - his strike from the edge of the box is beaten out by Allan McGregor.

The first thing for the home fans to really cheer about.

Neil Etheridge in the Cardiff goal is looking a little shaky at the moment.

He has just fumbled a cross, having failed to gather a ball a few minutes earlier which led to a half-chance for Hull City.

The Tigers are starting to get their teeth into this game now.

Nouha Dicko hits the post for Hull City as this game starts to come to life.

The striker got the ball deep in the Cardiff box, worked his way almost to the byline and shot low against the face of the near post before the ball squirmed away.

Michael Pearlman
BBC Wales Sport at the Cardiff City Stadium

Image source, Rex Features

There is no fluency to the play here in Cardiff, but perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised when we consider the situation fully.

Cardiff City are flying high, but they are also missing nine first-team players today and don't feature a fit striker.

For Hull, there is also a feeling of a state of flux, bearing in mind we are still in the infancy of Nigel Adkins' management.

We've played 20 minutes and both goalkeepers could have had a nice cup of tea and a sandwich.

If Hull City's statistics are to be believed then this should be a goal-fest.

The Tigers have scored more goals than anyone except leaders Wolves this season, but also have the third-worst defensive record.

Cue the 0-0 draw now....!

Hull City are relying on the long ball to Nouha Dicko at the moment.

It's not overly pretty, but could prove to be effective as the game goes on.

First shot of the game. It falls to Loic Damour who blasts it high and over the Hull bar after great work down the right from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Image source, Rex Features

Cardiff have had most of the possession so far and have been deep into Hull territory, but they have yet to produce a final ball of any note.

Both sides feeling the other out in the early stages in Cardiff.

The Bluebirds are now just one point ahead of third-placed Bristol City so need a win to keep the pressure on at the top of the table.

Image source, Rex Features

Duncan Mciver: Oh. My. God. A home win. Statue for Josh Maja.

Could there have been a better Christmas present for Sunderland fans? Let us know at #bbcefl.

We are under way at Cardiff City Stadium as Hull kick off.

Right then, on we go with the live action - the teams are out and ready to go. Can Nigel Adkins get a first win at Cardiff, or will Neil Warnock's side close the gap on leaders Wolves?

Image source, Empics

Nigel Adkins has his first away game as Hull City boss at Cardiff this evening - a city where he has never tasted victory as a manager.

Having guided Scunthorpe to the second tier in 2007 he led the Iron to a 1-1 draw at Ninian Park - the only time he has got a point in the Welsh capital.

Scunthorpe were thrashed 4-0 the next time he took them there in August 2009.

As Southampton boss his side went down 2-1 in September 2011, the same scoreline his Reading team were beaten by just over three years ago when he last took on the Bluebirds.

Image source, Getty Images

After Wolves' win at Sheffield Wednesday last night and Bristol City's 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest, all eyes now focus on second-placed Cardiff City.

Neil Warnock's second-placed Bluebirds go into the late game with Hull City seven points off leaders Wolves while Bristol City are now just one point behind in third place.

But Cardiff will have to buck the recent trend in results between themselves and opponents Hull City - it is more than five years since they last beat the Tigers when Heidar Helguson and Mark Hudson scored in a 2-1 win in November 2012.

The two sides last met the season before last - Hull winning both games 2-0 with Abel Hernandez getting a goal in each of the matches.

Michael Pearlman
BBC Wales Sport at the Cardiff City Stadium

Some surprise, as this is a pretty busy time of year for him, but Santa Claus himself managed to stop by at the press room at the Cardiff CIty Stadium. He assures us he's supporting Cardiff and not Ho Ho Ho Hull.

Image source, Michael Pearlman, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Thanks for that James. There's no lull here, with kick-off approaching in the late Championship game so let's take a look at the team news.

Both sides make three changes, with Rhys Healey making the bench for Cardiff - having not made an appearance yet this season.

Michael Hector, Jon Toral and Nouha Dicko replace Max Clark, David Meyler and Fraizer Campbell for Hull as new boss Nigel Adkins shuffles his pack after their 3-2 win at Brentford last time out.

Cardiff: Etheridge, Peltier, Bamba, Manga, Bennett, Damour, Ralls, Tomlin, Hoilett, Mendez-Laing, Pilkington

Hull: McGregor, Tomori, Mazuch, Dawson, Aina, Irvine, Hector, Larsson, Toral, Grosicki, Dicko

We'll bring you the best of the reaction to this afternoon's games over the next couple of hours, but for now we're going to concentrate on this evening's Championship game as Cardiff aim to close the gap on leaders Wolves.

Brent Pilnick will guide you through this one at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Hamish Marshall
BBC Radio 5 live at Ashton Gate

Image source, Getty Images

The expected result but a seventh win in nine for Lee Johnson's side was tougher than it looked like being at half-time.

Forest were much improved after the break, kick-started by Kieran Dowell’s cracking strike.

But the two goals scored near the end of the first half were just enough to keep City third - the Robins now look forward to hosting to Manchester United here in the League Cup on Wednesday.