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

Birmingham are visiting Yorkshire following a dominant 3-0 win at home to Bristol City, with head coach John Eustace facing selection dilemmas in midfield and forward areas.

Match preview

Hull City legend Andy Dawson has been tasked with temporary stewardship of the first-team squad since the sacking of Georgian Shota Arveladze in late September.

Dawson and his side managed to collect a crucial three points at home against Wigan Athletic, but that result is sandwiched by 2-0 defeats at the hands of Luton Town and most recently away at Huddersfield Town.

The Championship's worst defence is an unwanted title Hull have gained with little competition, with the Turkish-owned club conceding 26 goals in just 13 games, four more than any other team in the division.

At the other end Colombian Oscar Estupinan has carried the attacking burden for the Tigers, scoring eight of Hull's 13 second-tier goals so far this season since his summer move from Portuguese side Vitoria de Guimaraes.

Caretaker coach Dawson faces the difficult assignment of providing an attacking style the Hull hierarchy demands, whilst also addressing a defensive record that is putting games and vital points out of their reach.

Despite the off-field drama over the ownership of the club, Birmingham City head coach John Eustace is managing to create a positive atmosphere in the Second City as well as a togetherness between the players and supporters at St Andrew's.

Eustace decided to freshen up his side for the visit of Bristol City last weekend and was rewarded, as an energetic Blues XI blew the Robins away courtesy of a brace from Auston Trusty and a Dion Sanderson tap-in.

Key to that impressive 3-0 success was the performance of Manchester United loanee Hannibal Mejbri on his full debut for Birmingham, with the Tunisian's trickery a constant nuisance for the Bristol City midfield.

Two goals from American Trusty put the spotlight on a player that has adapted to the physical nature of English football remarkably well since his switch from the MLS and with the World Cup drawing closer, the defender might be dreaming of where a few more commendable displays in royal blue could take him in November.

Hull City Championship form:

L

L

L

L

W

L

Birmingham City Championship form:

W

W

D

D

L

W

Team News

Hull midfielder Regan Slater picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the away defeat to Huddersfield so is unavailable for selection against Birmingham this weekend.

Dion Sanderson faces the same fate for the visitors, as the on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers man collected his fifth booking in the second half of the win over Bristol City last time out.

Eustace has a decision to make on whether he brings wing-back Maxime Colin into a central-defensive three to replace Sanderson or opts for a more natural option such as young defender Tate Campbell.

Harvey Vale, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh and Benjamin Tetteh remain sidelined with their respective injuries and will not feature on Sunday afternoon.

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Baxter; Coyle, Jones, Greaves, Elder; Seri, Docherty, Christie, Pelkas, Sinik; Estupinan

Birmingham City possible starting lineup:

Ruddy; Colin, Dean, Trusty; Graham, Bielek, Hannibal, Hall, Longelo; Chong, Hogan

We say: Hull City 1-1 Birmingham City

Dion Sanderson's unavailability and the disruption of the Birmingham defence because of that makes Hull striker Estupinan an even trickier customer this weekend, something that could see the away side lose their clean sheet.

Hull's defensive record has been poor but Blues struggle to score away from home, only managing five in seven outings.

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