Hull City

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Southampton will look to get back on track as they host playoff-chasing Hull City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

After going winless in six Championship games either side of Christmas, claiming just three points, Saints start the day in 15th, nine points clear of the drop-zone and eight adrift of the play-off places, though the highest they could climb with a win is 13th.

The Tigers are seventh, out of the play-offs on goal difference alone, after seeing a five-match unbeaten streak ended by a 1-0 defeat to Stoke in their most recent Championship game on 1 January.

• Southampton have lost three of their past five league games against Hull (W1 D1), having won six in a row beforehand.

• Hull City are looking for their first league double over Southampton since the 1950/51 campaign.

• Southampton average the most possession (57.6%) in the Championship this season, while the Saints have also had the most build-up attacks (70), the most open play sequences with 10+ passes (340), the most passes per sequence (3.9) and longest average sequence time (10.5 seconds) in 2025/26.

• Hull City have won 16 points in their past eight away Championship matches (W5 D1 L2) and since October only Coventry (18) have more away points than the Tigers (16). They have the best points per game in that time, however (2 per game).

• Southampton's Adam Armstrong is the leading scorer in the Championship this season with 11 goals, while he's had the most shots (81) and shots on target (34), although he hasn't scored in his past six games. He did, however, net the Saints' only goal in a 3-1 defeat to Hull earlier this campaign

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Hull City defender Semi Ajayi's hopes of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations title with Nigeria were ended in agonising fashion on Wednesday evening.

The Super Eagles held the hosts Morocco to a goalless draw in their semi-final in Rabat only to lose 4-2 on penalties.

Ajayi played the full 120 minutes of the last-four tie but was not required to take a penalty in the shootout.

Nigeria will now meet Egypt in the third-place play-off on Saturday (16:00 GMT) while Morocco will face Senegal in Sunday's final (19:00 GMT).

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna, Watford's Javi Gracia, Sergej Jakirovic of Hull City and Swansea head coach Vitor Matos have been nominated for the Championship's manager of the month award for December.

McKenna has moved Ipswich into the top three and within two points of second-placed Middlesbrough after taking 14 points from their seven games last month, which included two wins over leaders Coventry.

Watford reappointed Gracia as head coach in October and an unbeaten run in December has pushed them into the play-off places, with the Hornets currently on a four-game winning run in the league.

Jakirovic has taken Hull City into promotion contention with wins at Middlesbrough and Millwall.

Swansea boss Matos started his reign with successive defeats but four wins from their six games in December has taken the Welsh side eight points clear of the relegation zone.

The winner will be announced on Friday, 16 January.

Stoke City are in advanced talks to sign Hull City full-back Cody Drameh on loan. (Sky Sports), external

The 24-year-old joined The Tigers from Leeds United in July 2024.

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Hull City defender Cody Drameh, 23, could now remain with the Tigers, having been linked with a January move away from the MKM Stadium. (Hull Daily Mail, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

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Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic says he will have to wait for news of Darko Gyabi's injury.

Midfielder Gyabi lasted just 11 minutes of the Tigers' FA Cup shootout win over Blackburn Rovers after going down following a sharp turn.

Hull also lost Matt Crooks in the warm-up to a quad injury, although Jakirovic says his absence was more precautionary.

"We did not want to take the risk to put him to play," the Bosnian told BBC Radio Humberside. "We spoke together and our decision was to not play him.

"With Darko, it is more serious. He will have a medical check and then we will see after the scan what is the damage."

Image source, Getty Images

The 2025-26 FA Cup fourth-round draw will take place on Monday, 12 January at approximately 18:35 GMT.

Proceedings will take place before kick-off in the third-round tie between Liverpool and Barnsley at Anfield.

Former England internationals Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole will conduct the draw that will consist of 32 teams live on TNT Sports.

Supporters can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app.

All matches will be played around the weekend commencing Saturday, 14 February.

Unlike in previous years, there are no replays if matches end as a draw. All ties will go to extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout.

Non-league Macclesfield are the lowest-ranked team in the draw after beating holders Crystal Palace in a remarkable 2-1 victory.

What are the ball numbers?

• 1. Wolverhampton Wanderers

• 2. Southampton

• 3. Aston Villa

• 4. Port Vale

• 5. Wigan Athletic

• 6. Ipswich Town

• 7. Wrexham

• 8. Chelsea

• 9. Manchester City

• 10. West Ham United

• 11. Brentford

• 12. Fulham

• 13. Sunderland

• 14. Liverpool or Barnsley

• 15. Burnley

• 16. Norwich City

• 17. Arsenal

• 18. Leeds United

• 19. West Bromwich Albion

• 20. Salford City or Swindon Town

• 21. Burton Albion

• 22. Grimsby Town

• 23. Hull City

• 24. Newcastle United

• 25. Oxford United

• 26. Leicester City

• 27. Birmingham City

• 28. Bristol City

• 29. Stoke City

• 30. Macclesfield

• 31. Brighton & Hove Albion

• 32. Mansfield Town

Pundits Dion Dublin and Phil Jones join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's FA Cup ties.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to selected full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Derby County 1-3 Leeds United

• Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal

• Norwich City 5-1 Walsall

• West Ham United 2-1 Queens Park Rangers

There are eight third-round ties in the FA Cup on Sunday - as Premier League and Championship teams enter the competition - and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Derby v Leeds (12:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Derby & BBC Radio Leeds

• Portsmouth v Arsenal (14:00) - BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Radio Solent

• Hull v Blackburn (14:30) - BBC Radio Humberside & BBC Radio Lancashire

• Norwich v Walsall (14:30) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2, BBC Radio Norfolk & BBC Radio WM

• Sheff Utd v Mansfield (14:30) - BBC Radio Sheffield & BBC Radio Nottingham

• Swansea v West Brom (14:30)

• West Ham v QPR (14:30) - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Radio London

• Man Utd v Brighton (16:30) - BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Radio Sussex

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction here

And find out how to follow the FA Cup across the BBC this weekend here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Derby County v Leeds United" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Portsmouth v Arsenal", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Hull defender Semi Ajayi has helped Nigeria reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The 32-year-old played the full 90 minutes as the Super Eagles won 2-0 in Marrakesh on Saturday thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.

Ajayi has featured in four of Nigeria's five games at the tournament in Morocco as they look to lift the title for the first time since 2013.

Nigeria will now face hosts Morocco in the semi-finals on Wednesday, 14 January (20:00 GMT).

Hull City are set to sign 31-year-old former QPR keeper Seny Dieng once he has negotiated his release by Middlesbrough. (Hull Daily Mail, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.

Middlesbrough are planning to test the resolve of Championship promotion rivals Hull City with a move for star defender Charlie Hughes, who could cost £10m. (Football League World, external)

Boro are also keen on signing Ecuador international winger Jeremy Sarmiento on loan from Brighton, if the Seagulls cut short the 23-year-old's unsuccessful loan at Serie A Cremonese. Sarmiento has been promoted from the Championship during loans with Ipswich and Burnley in the past two seasons. (Teesside Live, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City defender Semi Ajayi played the full 90 minutes as Nigeria reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

The 32-year-old was part of the Super Eagles side as they beat Mozambique 4-0 in Fes on Monday night to reach the last eight.

Ajayi has featured in three of the four matches Nigeria have played at the tournament in Morocco.

They will face either Algeria or DR Congo in Saturday's quarter-final tie in Marrakech (16:00 GMT).

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City left-back Matty Jacob has returned from his loan spell with Reading to continue his treatment for a long-term knee injury.

The 24-year-old was initially signed on a season-long loan in the summer but picked up the problem during a FA Cup match against Carlisle United in November to cut his time at the Select Car Leasing Stadium short.

Jacob made 16 appearances across all competitions for the Royals, playing all 90 minutes in 10 League One games.

The Tigers are currently without favoured left wing-back Ryan Giles, who has suffered a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the 1-0 loss to Stoke City on New Year's Day.

Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has said he is "not disappointed" by his side's performance in the 0-1 home loss to Stoke City on Thursday.

Robert Bozenik's first half tap in was enough for the Potters to see out the win at the MKM Stadium with Hull missing the chance to go third in the table following Middlesbrough's loss to Derby County.

"It's a normal Championship game, especially at this moment where every game is coming too fast.

"You just have recovery and mental preparation. I think in these days, in this moment, whoever has more energy, more will, more desire, then you can expect something.

"I expected this type of game because, from what I saw, there were a lot of aerial challenges and long balls. I was not satisfied in the first half especially, because we didn't play; we just kicked the ball forward, which was very easy to defend.

"I'm not disappointed at all because I know the lads gave everything on the pitch. In our circumstances, we are losing every game one or two players."