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

The two most recent League One title winners meet in the Championship on Saturday as Hull City host Coventry City.

The Tigers are struggling following promotion last season and sit 22nd in the table, while the Sky Blues are surprise high-flyers and sit fourth.

Match preview

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Hull head into the weekend two points adrift of safety, having won just two of their opening 14 matches of the campaign.

A 1-0 defeat to Luton Town last weekend was their third successive defeat, with Grant McCann bemoaning his team's lack of "killer edge" in the final third.

Finding the back of the net is certainly the key problem for the Tigers as they are the Championship's joint-lowest scorers with only nine goals to their name; they have drawn a blank in nine out of 14 matches.

Another difficult test awaits for Hull on Wednesday as they travel to West Bromwich Albion, before they face fellow strugglers Barnsley next weekend.

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However, this may be the best time to face Coventry as the Sky Blues are experiencing their worst run of form so far this season.

Mark Robins's men have failed to win any of their last three matches, drawing 1-1 with bottom side Derby County last weekend.

Coventry have only won one of seven away games this season and that came back in August against Blackpool, while they are without a clean sheet in five matches.

Robins will hope that their early promise is not fading, as defeat in East Yorkshire on Saturday could see them drop out of the top six for the first time since August.

This will be the two sides' first meeting since March 2012, when Coventry won 2-0 at what was then the KC Stadium.

Team News

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Alfie Jones is back in Hull training but will not be ready to feature on Saturday, while Tom Huddlestone and Brandon Fleming remain sidelined.

Di'Shon Bernard picked up his fourth yellow card of the season against Luton last weekend, meaning he is one booking away from incurring a one-match suspension.

Grant McCann may be tempted to switch things up in attack, with Tom Eaves pushing for a starting spot over Josh Magennis.

Coventry captain Liam Kelly was dropped to the bench against Derby last weekend so will be eager to return to the starting XI.

Matty Godden, Tyler Walker and Martyn Waghorn are all competing to partner top scorer Viktor Gyokeres upfront.

Michael Rose dropped out of the matchday squad altogether last week, with Mark Robins admitting he wanted another attack-minded player on the bench in the shape of Jodi Jones.

Hull City possible starting lineup:
Ingram; Coyle, Bernard, Greaves, Elder; Smallwood, Docherty; Wilks, Honeyman, Lewis-Potter; Eaves

Coventry City possible starting lineup:
Moore; Hyam, McFadzean, Clarke-Salter; Dabo, Hamer, Sheaf, Maatsen; O'Hare; Godden, Gyokeres

We say: Hull City 1-2 Coventry City

Coventry will view this game as a big opportunity to get back to winning ways and we think that is exactly what they will do in East Yorkshire. Hull look set for a relegation battle and their lack of goals is a big concern.