Hull Cityvs.Cardiff

The former boss was sacked on Sunday with the Bluebirds sat bottom of the Championship table on a single point, while their hosts recorded a first league victory of the campaign to climb up to 16th spot last time out.

Match preview

Hull City return to action on Saturday aiming to make it back-to-back Championship victories, after enduring a tough start to life under the new management of Tim Walter this season.

Aiming to sustain another playoff push under their new boss, the Tigers began with three consecutive draws in England's second tier, and that start would turn into a five-game winless streak.

A visit to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United before the international break ended in a 2-0 defeat at Elland Road, and on their return to action in September, Walter's men met Sheffield United and lost by the same scoreline as Gustavo Hamer and Sam McCallum netted goals for their visitors either side of the interval.

With pressure growing around the MKM Stadium, the Tigers most recently visited Stoke City on Friday and picked up a crucial first win under their German boss, despite trailing until the hour mark, as Kasey Palmer followed up his saved penalty to level the scores before Regan Slater put them ahead in the 77th minute and a Ben Wilmot own goal doubled the lead.

Bound to be relieved by that first three-point haul, which has triggered a climb to 16th spot at this early stage of the Championship term, Hull City will now bid to build a winning streak under Walter with a second straight triumph on Saturday.

CARDIFF IMAGO

They meet a visiting side who travel under temporary management, following Erol Bulut's exit on Saturday.

After leading Cardiff City to a 12th-placed finish last time around, Bulut was dismissed at the weekend with the Welsh outfit sat at the bottom of the Championship table having only earned a single point from their first six outings.

That point came in a 1-1 draw with rivals Swansea City in August, but the Bluebirds have since suffered three straight league defeats and four in all competitions, firstly losing 5-3 to Southampton in the EFL Cup and 2-0 to Middlesbrough in the second tier prior to the international break.

Then on the back of a 1-0 away defeat to Derby County and a 2-0 home loss to Leeds United on Saturday, with Largie Ramazani and Joel Piroe on the scoresheet for the visitors after Joel Bagan's early red card, the club hierarchy opted to make the switch on Sunday, with Omer Riza taking temporary charge.

Now desperate to put an end to their dismal start to the campaign, Cardiff City travel to Yorkshire in search of a first Championship victory of the term at the seventh time of asking.

Hull City Championship form:

D

D

D

L

L

W

Hull City form (all competitions):

L

D

D

L

L

W

Cardiff City Championship form:

L

L

D

L

L

L

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

L

D

L

L

L

L

Team News

Tim Walter should field a similar Hull City starting XI from the one that yielded a first victory of the season against Stoke City last time out, with Dogukan Sinik, Ryan Longman and Charlie Hughes remaining out of contention.

Regan Slater and Liam Millar did lay strong claims for starting spots with their displays off the bench in that game, though, and may get opportunities from the outset, with Millar hoping to flank Chris Bedia in a front three.

Slater, meanwhile, could join Kasey Palmer and Oscar Zambrano in the engine room, while Alfie Jones and Sean McLoughlin are bound to continue their centre-back partnership.

Cardiff City head into Saturday's trip without defender Joel Bagan, who is suspended after his red card in their loss to Leeds United, while Kion Etete, Isaak Davies, Ryotaro Tsunoda and Jesper Daland remain confined to the treatment room.

In Bagan's absence, Dimitrios Goutas should return to the defence from the outset, leaving Perry Ng or Will Fish to deputise on the left-hand side of a back four, while Omer Riza could stick with the midfield pairing of Joe Ralls and Manolis Siopis if Aaron Ramsey remains out of action.

Ahead of them, Chris Willock and Anwar El Ghazi will fight to come into the attack from the start, after Ollie Tanner, Rubin Colwill and Callum O'Dowda lined up in support of Wilfried Kanga last time out.

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Pandur; Coyle, Jones, McLoughlin, Drameh; Slater, Zambrano, Palmer; Belloumi, Bedia, Millar

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Alnwick; Ng, Chambers, Goutas, Fish; Siopis, Ralls; El Ghazi, Willock, Colwill; Kanga

We say: Hull City 2-0 Cardiff City

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