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

Shota Arveladze will be in the dugout for his first Hull City game when the Tigers host Swansea City in the Championship on Saturday.

The former Rangers and Ajax striker takes over with the Yorkshire outfit currently 19th in the Championship table, three points behind the Swans who are 17th.

Match preview

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New Hull owner Acun Ilicali made his first big decision at the MKM Stadium this week, relieving Grant McCann of his duties despite the Tigers securing impressive wins with clean sheets over promotion-chasing Blackburn Rovers and Bournemouth in the last two matches.

However, the Turkish businessman said that he "wouldn't be fair or honest" if he waited for a defeat to change manager and Arveladze was confirmed as the new boss on Thursday.

Only Barnsley and Cardiff City have picked up fewer points at home in the Championship this season than Hull, but the Tigers have lost just one of their last five league games at the MKM Stadium.

They also remain the joint-second lowest scorers in the second tier with 23 goals in 27 games and are reportedly targeting a move for Serbian striker Aleksander Pesic before the end of the transfer window.

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Swansea have not won on their last five visits to Hull since a 1-0 victory in the Premier League in December 2014.

The current Swans team have recorded just one victory in their last six Championship games, but are unbeaten in their last three.

Russell Martin's side earned a hard-fought point in a 0-0 draw away at playoff contenders Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday evening.

Although they have games in hand over all the teams above them, a place in the top six now seems a long shot for the Welsh side who were beaten by Brentford in the playoff final last season.

Three of the last four games between Hull and Swansea have ended in draws, including a goalless stalemate at the Liberty Stadium earlier this season.

Team News

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Shota Arveladze's preferred formation is 4-2-3-1, so Hull could move away from the three-man defence system that has served them well in recent weeks.

Brandon Fleming may come in for his first start of the season at left-back, while centre-back Di'Shon Bernard could fill in at right-back in the absence of Josh Emmanuel and Lewie Coyle.

Midfielder Regan Slater became the Tigers' first signing of the January transfer window on Thursday so could make his debut.

Flynn Downes is suspended for Swansea after being sent off in second-half stoppage time against QPR on Tuesday.

Olivier Ntcham missed the trip to West London through injury, but is expected to return at the MKM Stadium.

Jamie Paterson continues to not be involved with the first team amid a contract dispute with the club's owners.

Hull City possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Bernard, McLoughlin, Greaves, Fleming; Docherty, Smallwood; Longman, Honeyman, Lewis-Potter; Eaves

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Hamer; Cabango, Naughton, Manning; Christie, Smith, Grimes, Latibeaudiere; Ntcham, Wolf; Piroe

We say: Hull City 1-0 Swansea City

Usually a change in manager occurs when a team needs a lift, but confidence will already be high in the Hull camp after impressive back-to-back wins.

We think that the Tigers will be victorious again with Swansea still missing the attacking influence of Paterson.

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