Preview: Hull City vs. West Bromwich Albion - prediction, team news, lineups

The Tigers are back at their Humberside base after a statement win on the South Coast against Southampton on Tuesday, whereas the Baggies were successful over Plymouth Argyle on the same night.

Match preview

Hull are firmly in the conversation for a top-six finish after three-straight away maximums over the past fortnight, beating Rotherham United, Huddersfield Town and promotion-chasing Southampton all by 2-1 scorelines, with the latter of those results capturing the attention of the fellow playoff hopefuls.

The Tigers rocked up at St Mary's Stadium and handed Russell Martin's men their maiden loss on the South Coast since the middle of September, with first-half strikes from Burnley loanee Anass Zaroury and Liverpool man Fabio Carvalho enough to collect all three points on Tuesday night.

Liam Rosenior did not panic when his side endured a run of one win in seven games across December and January as he believed that Hull were small margins away from exploding into form, with Saturday's hosts having now been victorious in five of their last six Championship matches.

The collection of 12 points from an available 15 in the month of February has fired the Tigers above Coventry City and into sixth place in the second-tier standings, three points ahead of Mark Robins's Sky Blues and Norwich City who lie in eighth and ninth position respectively.

Although much of the narrative around Hull's remarkable rise is centred around the playmaking trio of Carvalho, Zaroury and Jaden Philogene, former Brighton & Hove Albion striker Aaron Connolly currently leads the club's Golden Boot race in the Championship with eight goals.

Going a long way to distancing themselves from troubles on the road in the Championship this season, West Brom recorded a largely-comfortable 3-0 victory at Home Park against Plymouth on Tuesday night, with a new wave of Albion attackers coming up trumps in front of goal.

After Cedric Kipre opened the scoring for the Baggies in the second half, Celtic loanee Mikey Johnston doubled the visitors' advantage with a mazy run and emphatic finish, before academy graduate Tom Fellows netted his third league goal of the season to ensure maximum points in Devon.

From being over reliant on the attacking talents of Jed Wallace and John Swift in the early stages of the campaign, Carlos Corberan's side are enjoying the contributions of Fellows, Johnston and January arrival Andreas Weimann in recent matches, making West Brom a greater threat for opposition defences.

As has been the case for the majority of the campaign, Albion are currently sitting in fifth position in the second-tier standings, although a defeat for the Black Country outfit on Saturday would see Hull leapfrog them and gain an advantage in the race for a top-six berth.

Continuing to walk on a financial tightrope despite the acquisition of the club by American businessman Shilen Patel earlier this month, West Brom announced the signing of free agent Yann M'Vila on Monday evening, with the 33-year-old previously spending time in England at Sunderland.

Hull City Championship form:

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West Bromwich Albion Championship form:

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West Bromwich Albion form (all competitions):

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Team News

Hull remain without the services of Manchester City loanee Liam Delap, who is not expected back in action until April due to a knee injury.

The 21-year-old's absence formed part of the reasoning for the Tigers' January business, with Billy Sharp and Abdulkadir Omur joining to bolster their striking ranks.

Jean Michael Seri made his first Hull appearance last time out since lifting the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, and the midfielder is set to join Regan Slater in the engine room once again.

West Brom forward Brandon Thomas-Asante missed the Plymouth victory due to a hamstring injury, and although the issue is not serious, it is unclear whether the attacker will be available to feature this weekend.

The former Salford City joined fellow strikers Daryl Dike and Josh Maja in the medical room this week, meaning that Albion could be without a recognised number nine on Saturday.

Okay Yokuslu was rested from the start on Tuesday night, and the Turkey international is expected to regain his place alongside Alex Mowatt in the XI, at the expense of Nathaniel Chalobah.

Hull City possible starting lineup:

Allsopp; Coyle, Jones, Greaves, Giles; Seri, Slater, Philogene, Carvalho, Zaroury; Omur

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:

Palmer; Furlong, Kipre, Pieters, Townsend; Yokuslu, Mowatt, Wallace, Swift, Fellows; Weimann

We say: Hull City 2-2 West Bromwich Albion

West Brom managed to keep a rare clean sheet on the road at Plymouth on Tuesday night, however we feel that Hull will cause Albion more defensive headaches compared to the Pilgrims.

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