MX23RW : Saturday, May 9 15:49:06| >> :600:102733:102733:
Feb 29, 2020 at 12.30pm UK at KCOM Stadium
Attendance: 16,178
Hull City
0-4
LeedsLeeds United
FT(HT: 0-1)
Ayling (5'), Hernandez (47'), Roberts (81', 84')

Preview: Hull City vs. Leeds United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Hull City and Leeds United, including team news and predicted lineups.

Leeds United will be looking to make it four straight Championship victories when they travel to Hull City on Saturday afternoon.

The Whites have picked up nine points from their last three fixtures to consolidate second spot in the table, while Hull have dropped into 17th position as they continue to struggle for form.


Match preview

Mallik Wilks celebrates equalising for Hull City on February 8, 2020© Reuters

Hull continue to slide down the Championship table and are now dangerously close to the relegation zone, with just four points separating them from 21st-placed Wigan Athletic on the same number of matches.

The Tigers have still not won in the league since overcoming Sheffield Wednesday on New Year's Day, losing seven of their nine fixtures since then during a torrid run of form.

Grant McCann's side have lost their last two to Preston North End and Barnsley, meanwhile, and a home game against one of the best teams in the division is not quite what they need at this moment in time.

Hull have also only won one of their last seven matches with Leeds in all competitions, although they did record a surprise 2-0 victory at Elland Road during the 2018-19 campaign.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa pops a squat on February 15, 2020© Reuters

Between New Year's Day and February 11, Leeds only picked up one Championship win, and it would be fair to say that there was a lot of concern among the supporters that the Whites could fall away.

Marcelo Bielsa's side have responded in impressive fashion, though, winning each of their last three in the Championship, all 1-0, to consolidate second spot in the table.

As it stands, Leeds are five points clear of third-placed Fulham, while they are only four points behind leaders West Bromwich Albion, who have only lost four of their 35 league matches this season.

Bielsa's team have the best defensive record in the second tier this term with only 30 goals conceded, and Wednesday's 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough was particularly impressive as they did come under pressure.

There is still a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season but confidence has returned at an important time for the club, who are desperate to return to the Premier League.

Hull Championship form: LDLDLL

Leeds Championship form: LLDWWW


Team News

Kalvin Phillips in action for Leeds United on October 23, 2019© Reuters

Hull are facing another injury crisis having been hit by the news that Tom Eaves will miss the remainder of the season with an ankle issue.

Reece Burke, Jordy de Wijs and Jon Toral have also all suffered setbacks, although Mallik Wilks will be available having been ineligible against Barnsley, while Keane Lewis-Potter is also back from a hamstring problem.

James Scott, Eric Lichaj, Herbie Kane and Josh Bowler are still on the sidelines, though.

As for Leeds, the main talking point surrounds the fitness of Kalvin Phillips, who did not play against Boro on Wednesday night due to a calf problem.

The midfielder is being tipped to return to the starting XI for this match, but Jean-Kevin Augustin is out with a hamstring injury, while Adam Forshaw will miss the remainder of the season following hip surgery.

Phillips for Gaetano Berardi could be the only change from the side that started at the Riverside Stadium.

Hull possible starting lineup:
Long; McKenzie, Pennington, McLoughlin, Elder; Stewart, Lopes; Irvine, Honeyman, Maddison; Magennis

Leeds possible starting lineup:
Casilla; Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas; Costa, Klich, Phillips, Hernandez, Harrison; Bamford


Sports Mole Logo

We say: Hull 0-2 Leeds

It is really, really difficult to make a case for Hull in this weekend's contest. The Tigers have had a rotten 2020 thus far and will not relish facing one of the best teams in the division; we fancy Leeds to run out 2-0 winners at the KCOM Stadium in Saturday's early start.


ID:391083:

Who will win Saturday's Championship clash between Hull City and Leeds United?

Hull City
Draw
Leeds United
Hull City
14.6%
Draw
4.2%
Leeds United
81.3%
Share this article now:
Shocked Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa on February 8, 2020
Read Next:
Marcelo Bielsa pleased with game management as Leeds beat Middlesbrough
>
Latest Sports Video
Did you know...?
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.

rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds37218856302671
2West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom371913564372770
3Fulham371810952381464
4Brentford371791164333160
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest371612948381060
6Preston North EndPreston37168135045556
7Bristol City371510125153-255
8Millwall37131594440454
9Cardiff CityCardiff37131595250254
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn371411125245753
11Swansea CitySwansea371314104645153
12Derby CountyDerby371312124949051
13Queens Park RangersQPR37148155862-450
14Reading37139154642448
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds37139154649-348
16Birmingham CityBirmingham371211144857-947
17Stoke CityStoke37126194955-642
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield37119174558-1342
19Middlesbrough37914143747-1041
20Wigan AthleticWigan371011163850-1241
21Hull City37118184963-1441
22Charlton AthleticCharlton37109184454-1039
23Luton TownLuton37105224371-2835
24Barnsley37810194262-2034

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!