Plymouth's remarkable FA Cup journey ended with a respectable 3-1 defeat against Manchester City, shifting their focus towards the battle for survival in the Championship. Their upcoming crucial match against Hull at the MKM Stadium will mark the beginning of this survival quest.
Following Luton's 1-0 victory over Portsmouth, Plymouth dropped to the second-bottom spot in the standings. However, they are only three points behind Hull, who have struggled to maintain consistency and distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Hull's recent form has been unconvincing, with the team failing to secure consecutive victories for over five months. The pressure mounts on them as they approach the upcoming match against Plymouth following a 1-0 loss to Cardiff last Tuesday.
Team news
Hull is dealing with major setbacks due to knee injuries sidelining Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry and midfielder Eliot Matazo for the remainder of the season. Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi are also facing lengthy spells on the sidelines due to knee injuries.
Ryan Hardie missed the previous matches due to a back issue and will require further assessment before the upcoming game. On the other hand, Brendan Galloway and Muhamed Tijani are unavailable, while Joe Edwards might make his return from a hamstring injury after being an unused substitute in the last match at the Etihad.
The stats
In their recent six matches, Hull has scored the opening goal in four games. Additionally, their last four matches have all had less than four goals and their victories have been accompanied by clean sheets.
On the other hand, Plymouth has struggled in away fixtures, losing 13 of their last 18 matches. They have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their last nine Championship games.
Prediction
Hull has relied on their away form in the fight against relegation but will aim to secure their first home win since December against Plymouth. Despite recent victories against strong opponents like Sheffield United and Sunderland, Hull has faltered against teams in similar positions in the table.
Plymouth, who are yet to win an away match in the Championship, might face challenges after an intense FA Cup clash against Manchester City. This could potentially impact their performance against Hull, who are favored to claim victory in this crucial encounter.