YourParkingSpace Preview: Hull City (A)

Our match preview is brought to you by YourParkingSpace!

City head north for Friday night Championship action as they prepare to face Hull City at the MKM Stadium (7.30pm).

Following a home defeat at the hands of Birmingham City on Saturday, Nigel Pearson’s men will be looking for a response and to replicate the display against Millwall last time on the road, as Matty James’ acrobatic effort secured maximum points in stoppage time.

There’s also been a new face through the door since the Robins’ last outing, Taylor Gardner-Hickman joining on loan from West Bromwich Albion until the end of the season with an option to buy.

OUR OPPONENTS: Hull City

With two wins from three in the Sky Bet Championship, it’s been a good start to the season for Liam Rosenior’s side and the former City player will be looking for back-to-back home league wins for the Tigers.

Despite tasting defeat on the opening day against Norwich City, Hull City followed this up with consecutive league wins against Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers respectively.

After a busy summer which has already seen 13 players arrives at the MKM Stadium, Rosenior is still looking to further strengthen his squad before the window closes.

HULL PROFILE

Formed: 1904
Stadium: MKM Stadium
Nickname: The Tigers
Manager: Liam Rosenior
Finish last season: 7th

MATCH DETAILS

When: Friday, August 25th (7.30pm) 
Where: MKM Stadium
Competition: Sky Bet Championship

Referee: James Linington
Assistant referee: Shaun Hudson
Assistant referee: Robert Hyde
Fourth Official: Anthony Blackhouse

ONE TO WATCH: Ozan Tufan

Capped 65 times for Türkiye, scoring nine goals, Ozan Tufan joined Hull City from Turkish giants Fenerbahçe in July 2022 on a three-year deal.

Beginning his youth career at Bursaspor in 2005, the Orhaneli-born midfielder spent 11 years in their academy before scoring on his debut as a 17-year-old, netting in a 6-0 second-leg victory over Finnish side KuPS in the UEFA Europa League third-round qualifying round in September 2012.

Scoring four goals and registering 10 assists in 66 appearances for the Yeşil Timsahlar (Green Crocodiles) over three seasons, his impressive form earned him a €7 million move to Fenerbahçe in August 2015.

Featuring regularly for Fenerbahçe in his first two seasons, Tufan made 19 appearances out on loan at Alanyaspor in 2019.

Returning to Fenerbahçe for a further two seasons, the versatile midfielder moved to Watford on loan at the start of the 2021/22 season. Making his Hornets debut in the EFL Cup, Tufan made nine appearances for Watford before returning to Fenerbahçe for the second half of the campaign.

Overall, he made 216 appearances for Fenerbahçe, with 182 of them being starts. Scoring 21 goals and registering 24 assists, Tufan became the first Hull City player to hail from Türkiye.

MATCH REWIND

Result: Hull City 1-3 Bristol City
When: 24.08.2019
Competition: Sky Bet Championship

Benik Afobe scored twice as Bristol City earned a third successive Championship win with victory at Hull City.

The Robins went ahead through Afobe’s penalty after a foul on Tommy Rowe.

Visiting striker Famara Diedhiou then struck the underside of the crossbar with a far-post header, only for Jarrod Bowen to superbly slot home moments later to make it 1-1 on the stroke of half time.

Bristol City restored their lead when Reece Burke diverted Jack Hunt’s low cross into his own net, before substitute Hunt then teed up Afobe in almost identical fashion to make the game safe.

HEAD-TO-HEAD