Hull City

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

Hull City striker Oli McBurnie says that boss Sergej Jakirovic keeps reminding him of his goal targets after he scored his third of the season in their 3-1 win against Southampton on Saturday.

The Scotland international was set a target of 15 goals by Jakirovic when he joined from Las Palmas in the summer and it is a number he is not being allowed to forget.

"He [Jakirovic] keeps reminding me, he just said after the game 'how many more?'," McBurnie told BBC Radio Humberside.

"Him and the chairman, every time they see me, they keep reminding me there's a tally I need to get to so I'm just trying to get there."

The 29-year-old has three goals and three assists to his name across the Tigers' opening six Championship games, plus a fourth strike in their Carabao Cup loss to Wrexham in August.

However, regardless of his own personal ambitions, McBurnie believes that the helping his team-mates find the net is just as valuable as taking the glory for himself.

"You are going to be judged on your goals as a striker," he added.

"I think only scored five goals last year and maybe eight assists, so it gets to 'oh, you only scored five goals'. It always reverts back to you're a striker and you need to score goals.

"If you get 13 goal contributions - goals or assists - it means you and your team have got 13 goals so it doesn't matter if you've scored or anyone else has scored."

Listen to the full post-match interview with McBurnie and more Hull City content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic believes it was his side's shape that was the reason behind their 3-1 win against Southampton on Saturday.

Goals from Kyle Joseph, John Lundstram and Oli McBurnie saw off a struggling Southampton all despite the Tigers having less than 30% possession of the ball.

"I'm very happy because the players put everything out on the pitch with energy, with intensity," said the Bosnian to BBC Radio Humberside.

"We were struggling in some situations because Southampton is a very good team, invest a lot of money and they will fight for promotion for sure because this is traditional.

"I knew we wouldn't have the ball because they are very good in possession, but the plan was that we were compact if we are low or in the middle zone.

"At the end it succeeded because we scored three beautiful goals, especially with crosses, because when we analysed Southampton they struggled with controlling the players in the box."

Southampton go in search of their first Championship win since the opening day of the season when they head to Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Saints have drawn three and lost one of their four fixtures since beating Wrexham in dramatic fashion, but are still one point and five places better off than the Tigers before their meeting at the MKM.

City salvaged a point at Swansea last time out but the 2-2 draw meant they had conceded 11 goals in their past four games, which earned them four points.

• Hull City won their last league meeting with Southampton in February 2024 but haven't won back-to-back matches against the Saints since the 1950-51 second tier campaign (4-1 home, 3-2 away).

• Southampton have won four of their last five away league visits to Hull City (L1), winning 2-1 in their most recent trip in 2023-24.

• Only Wrexham's Championship matches (164) have seen more shots than Hull's games (150 – 69 for, 81 against).

• The Tigers have conceded two or more goals in each of their last four league games, having not done so in any 16 games beforehand.

• Southampton have won just two of their last 33 league matches (D8 L23), drawing each of their last two. The Saints last drew three in a row in August/September 2021 (four consecutively).

• Hull City striker Oli McBurnie could make his 250th appearance in the top four tiers of English football. He has, however, never scored in five previous outings vs Southampton, only facing Bristol City (7) more times without scoring among current Championship clubs.

Assistant coach Dean Holden says Hull City will be diligent about when to reintegrate Liam Millar into the first team.

The Canadian midfielder, who turns 26 later this month, sustained an ACL injury against Burnley on 23 October 2024 but has returned to training with the Tigers and is in contention for a return to the squad.

City snatched a last-gasp 2-2 draw at Swansea on Saturday to make it five points from five games and welcome Southampton to the MKM Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are some of the key points from Holden's pre-match interview with BBC Radio Humberside:

• He expects the same squad for the visit of the Saints as the one which drew at Swansea, as Matt Crooks and Semi Ajayi remain sidelined, though they have returned to rehab on grass.

• Millar is back in training but "we have to choose which is the right game for him to return in. We have to be diligent."

• The club are pleased with the performances of Lewie Coyle and Mo Belloumi since their return from injury.

• After a cameo off the bench at Swansea, Enis Destan played in an under-21s game against Charlton in midweek and has impressed in training.

• Holden has loved every second of his time at Hull since joining in the summer. "It's a fantastic place to work with great people and an exciting squad."

Click here to listen to the full interview with BBC Radio Humberside via BBC Sounds

Hull City defender John Egan believes getting a point away at Swansea will be the beginning of a Tigers improvement in the Championship this season.

The Tigers drew 2-2 with the Swans courtesy of Egan's 97th-minute goal to pick up their fifth point of the season.

"It's important to come away from home and get results - it's a long season, every point is so important," Egan told BBC Radio Humberside.

Before the international break, Hull City had lost two games on the bounce.

In six games this season, including the Carabao Cup defeat at Wrexham, they have conceded 14 goals and only managed one clean sheet in the 0-0 draw at Coventry City in their opener.

"We have to get more ruthless in our defending as a team," Egan said.

"We [must] defend better, keep clean sheets, I think there's goals in the team so we've a lot of improvement to do but I think we're going in the right direction."

Hull now sit 20th in the Championship but have three home fixtures - as well as a trip to Watford - to come before the next international break, against Southampton, Sheffield United and Birmingham City.

"We have a really good squad and a good manager and I really feel like there's a lot to come from us this season," Egan added.

Listen to the full interview with John Egan and more Hull City on Sounds.

Owain Gwynedd Griffith
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It was a dramatic finish in south Wales, with John Egan's 97th-minute equaliser securing a deserved point for Hull at Swansea.

The Tigers, who haven't won away since 5 April, could have easily given up but showed unusual tenacity for a side struggling on the road.

It was also written in the stars that Oli McBurnie, the former Swans hero, would score against his former club - and he did for a second time. The first came in 2023 for Sheffield United.

Swansea will feel disappointed as they controlled large parts of the game and held the lead until so late.

That said, Swans fans will feel that they've got a squad that can push for the top six.

Malick Yalcouye, the 19-year-old on loan from Brighton, showed his potential as he started instead of injured Marko Stamenic.

Sitting in midfield, he looked to drive forward with the ball at his feet, with pace and strength, on each occasion possible.

He provided the assist for Zan Vipotnik's opening goal and was at the centre of the attack that led to Ronald's score.

Drawing what the Hull defenders must have believed to be a foul that the referee had whistled for but hadn't as they stood like statues, Zeidane Inoussa crossed, Ronald tapped in unopposed.

Yalcouye will have a big part to play in Swansea's season.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City midfielder Darko Gyabi says he is a player who is looking to "make an impact" following his move from Leeds in the summer.

The 21-year-old joined Hull on a three-year deal, with the option of a further year, and has settled well since moving to the club.

"It's weird because a lot of the boys went away with national teams so coming in, you're meeting people bit by bit, but everyone's back now so it's been good to meet everyone and be on the training pitch," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"Everyone's made me feel really welcome from the coaching staff to the players, the staff around have been really helpful, it's been easy to settle in and focus on playing football which is obviously what I'm here to do so it's been really helpful."

Gyabi will be in contention to make his debut for the Tigers as they travel to South Wales on Saturday to face Swansea City.

The midfielder is looking to make an instant impact at his new club.

"I'm a player who likes to make an impact in both boxes, I like to get on the ball, drive with the ball and create chances," he said.

"Something that I want to do this season is score more goals, give more assists and defensively I want to be solid as well.

"I want to bring a bit of joy on the pitch as a midfielder going both ways."

Gyabi spent much of his youth career at Manchester City before moving to Leeds in 2022.

"In terms of growing up as a person, I went to Leeds when I was 18 and now at 21 you learn from playing games, through the loan spells that I had so I think I've definitely gained more experience," he added.

"When I was at (Manchester) City, we played more attacking football and I like to get on the ball, I don't think that's changed."

The towering midfielder spent 18 months on loan at Plymouth Argyle making over 50 appearances.

That experience playing senior football helped him develop further.

"Even at Plymouth under the managers we had, the managers saw the quality that I had on the ball and what I could do going forward," he said.

"I think one of my biggest strengths is having the ball at my feet, driving forward and shooting so that's what I want to keep doing and keep improving."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic has been speaking to BBC Radio Humberside ahead of his side's trip to Swansea City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are the main talking points:

• The squad were able to use the international break as an opportunity to rest and recover and had some useful training sessions where Jakirovic saw improvements on the football he witnessed in the 4-2 loss at Bristol City last time out.

• New midfield signings Amir Hadziahmetovic and Darko Gyabi were brought in to fill the six and eight roles. Bosnia and Herzegovina international Hadziahmetovic brings a range of experience and "balance, calm on the ball" whilst Gyabi brings power, height and quality in transitions.

• Keeping hold of Charlie Hughes is huge for Hull City with Jakirovic saying his departure would "kill [the] group" because it wouldn't have been possible to buy a replacement. Jakirovic believes that "Charlie needs to play for Hull City all season and then go to [a] Premier League club."

• Akin Famewo and Enis Destan have been back training with the group and will feature in the squad for the Swansea game. Of Destan, Jakirovic praised his work rate and his aerial ability when attacking the box.

• Against Swansea City, Jakirovic is looking for improvements on the performance against Bristol City, especially in defence. Jakirovic was disappointed with the players "losing their heads" after conceding goals against the Robins.

• Jakirovic is "pleased" with Hull City's transfer window having managed to hold onto key players and recruiting in areas where it was needed, altogether achieving a "wider roster."

Listen to the full interview with Sergej Jakirovic and more Hull City on Sounds.

Swansea City will be seeking to continue their good form and host a Hull City side who have won just one of their last five games across all competitions on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Swans have lost just one game so far this season, away from home at league leaders Middlesborough whereas Hull have been beaten in their last two league games conceding seven goals in the process.

• Swansea have lost just one of their last six league games against Hull (W3 D2), winning two of the last three encounters (L1).

• Since a 2-0 victory in the Premier League in August 2016, Hull are winless in their last six league trips to Swansea City (D3 L3).

• Among current Championship sides, only Middlesbrough (32) have earned more points in the competition than Swansea since Alan Sheehan's first game in charge in February (31 – W9 D4 L4), winning six of their nine league games at home in that time (D2 L1).

• Hull have conceded seven goals in their last two league games (L2), just one fewer than in their previous nine matches in the Championship (8).

• No team's Championship games have seen fewer goals scored than Swansea this season (6 – F4 A2), with all four of their goals scored coming in the second half of games.

Hull City's deadline day signing Darko Gyabi came as a surprise to many, but Leeds United fan writer Adonis Storr reckons he could be exactly what the squad needs.

The 21-year-old midfielder, who came through the Manchester City academy, joined the Tigers from Leeds on a three-year-deal.

He also boasts 12 appearances for England Under-20s, scoring two goals.

And Storr, the Leeds fan writer for the BBC Sport website, explained why the young midfielder is a profile fit for Hull City.

"Very young, 21, very good player, technically good on the ball as you'd expect from a Man City academy product," Storr told BBC Radio Humberside.

"He's tall, he's six foot five and he recently, in the last two seasons, has developed his progressive runs [and] dribbling."

Gyabi made an impressive impact on loan at Plymouth Argyle, racking up 58 appearances across two seasons in all competitions.

"If you look at his stats for the last two seasons, he's in the 86th percentile against other midfielders for progressive carries," added Storr. "What that means is he carries the ball at least 10 yards and into the opposition's half."

Hull City have had less possession than their opposition in three of their four Championship games this season. Their only win has come against Oxford United, when they had 74.8% possession.

Storr says Gyabi has the ability to turn defence into attack rapidly by winning the ball back and keeping it, adding an extra dimension that can win Hull games.

"He's always had a bit of defensive stability in bringing control to the midfield, but he's now moved into that classic box-to-box role," Storr added.

"He'll be massive in terms of counter-attacks for Hull - he might be able to link the defence to the attack and bring players into the game."

Listen to the full interview and more from Hull City on Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City winger Abu Kamara has moved to Spanish side Getafe on a season-long loan deal.

Kamara, 22, joined Hull 12 months ago in a permanent switch from Norwich City.

He played 37 games for the Tigers last season and had made three appearances this term, but he will spend the rest of the campaign in La Liga, while Getafe have the option to make the move permanent next summer.

Kamara also spent the 2023-24 season on loan with Portsmouth in which he helped them to win the League One title.

Owain Gwynedd Griffith
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The Tigers slump to another away defeat - 5 April the last win on the road. It is not the result or performance that's of greatest concern to the travelling fans but keeping this squad together before the transfer window closes.

With the club under transfer restrictions, fans are desperate not to lose Saturday's captain Charlie Hughes. Coventry are keen on the centre-half and have allegedly had a third bid rejected. This follows the departure of Sean McLoughlin to Blackburn back in July.

With gaping holes in the defence in the opening 45 minutes against Bristol City, you are left wondering how they will plug the leaky defence if he leaves. They have conceded seven goals in the last two matches.

At the other end of the pitch, Joel Ndala and David Akintola are frighteningly quick and seem like decent signings alongside the nuisance Ollie McBurnie.

Scoring goals won't be the problem but keeping them out will.

David Akintola said he has "settled in very well" to life with Hull City as the Championship club prepare for Saturday's fixture away to Bristol City.

The forward played for Adana Demirspor and Caykur Rizespor in Turkey before making the switch to the Tigers this season.

"I have settled in very well. The guys in the team and the staff they have made me settle in well, and I like the city, it is good to be here," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I have trained with the team and I am in a good shape. I feel good and I am ready to play.

"When I was at home and on holiday I was making sure I was training all the time. When I got here it wasn't that much of a difference, but there is a difference between training on holiday and training with a team."

It is the first time the 29-year-old has played in England having started his career in Denmark at Midtjylland.

But it is not the first time he has heard of Hull having followed the club's top-flight campaigns of the past.

"Growing up in Nigeria we all knew Hull City from back when they were playing in the Premier League," he said.

"So, to be able to get a call from them, it is a no brainer, and when I got the call, I couldn't say no - it was an easy decision to be here."

Bristol City are yet to lose in the league this season, but did go out of the Carabao Cup in the second round against Fulham.

"If Bristol City haven't lost this season, they will have to lose to us first as we are mentally ready, physically ready, and focused.

"We are going there with the mindset of getting three points, and I hope we will get the three points."

Listen to the full interview with David Akintola and more on BBC Sounds

Bristol City host Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST) with both sides only suffering the one defeat so far this season.

Gerhard Struber's Robins are unbeaten in the Championship so far picking up five points after back-to-back draws followed an opening day romp at Sheffield United, with the Austrian's only loss being in the EFL Cup on Wednesday to Premier League side Fulham.

Hull's unbeaten league start came to an end last weekend following a 3-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers, but manager Sergej Jakirovic says his squad are prepared for the game after an illness struck the squad.

• Bristol City have lost just one of their past 14 league games against Hull City (W7 D6), with that a 2-1 defeat in July 2022.

• Hull City have won just one of their past 27 away league games against Bristol City (D7 L19), conceding 2.5 goals on average per visit to Ashton Gate in that time.

• Bristol City are unbeaten across their opening three league games this season (W1 D2), last going four undefeated to start a league campaign in 2020-21.

• Hull have won just one of their past eight away league games (D4 L3), failing to score in three of their last four.

• Bristol City have lost just one of their past 16 home league games (W11 D4), conceding multiple goals in just one match during that stint.

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic says his squad are fully fit after several players were recently laid low by a virus.

The Bosnian says there are no new injuries, with Charlie Hughes back in training ahead of their trip to Bristol City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

He also said a decision will be taken on Friday on whether Louis Coyle will be back for the game.

"He (Coyle) is a captain, he's very important as a leader, he has lots of quality as well," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

On the anticipated signing of Amir Hadziahmetovic on loan from Besiktas, Jakirovic said: "I'm pleased with him because we missed a few options in the middle. He can play number six or eight.

"We are closing this deal and he wants to come here. I think he will improve this group a lot, with his professionalism after 10 years in Turkey.

"He has great personality. He will be a great reinforcement."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic felt a virus among the squad was a factor in the 3-0 loss at home to Blackburn, but admitted the visitors deserved their win.

Key defender Charlie Hughes and summer signing Akin Famewo missed the match because they were ill, while others played despite being under the weather.

"A very disappointing day for us. After 20 minutes we had some chances to score and then we made one mistake in our defence which they punished with a goal," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"At half-time we tried to change things and they then punished us with two quick goals. In the end I must congratulate Blackburn on a deserved win.

"We had a lot of problems before this game. We missed some players and had a virus in our dressing room, so this is maybe a key question of energy and intensity.

"We must analyse this game, keep going and keep working."