Hull vs Birmingham predictions: Tigers can maintain play-off push

- Hull have lost just one of their last eight league games
- Birmingham have lost five of their last seven games
- Recommended bet: Hull to win and Both Teams to Score

The Championship takes centre stage in England in midweek, with Liam Rosenior’s Hull taking on Birmingham at the MKM Stadium in a crucial game at both ends of the table on Tuesday night.

The Tigers occupy the final play-off position with just a one-point lead over nearest rivals Norwich but they should feel confident in keeping the Canaries at bay for another matchday with victory over a Blues side that is only outside of the bottom three on goal difference.

Team news

Rosenior continues to have issues surrounding the fitness of his frontline, with the likes of Aaron Connolly and Liam Delap both likely to miss out through injury, while veteran striker Billy Sharp also lacks match sharpness.

The Tigers may therefore once again rely upon the talents of Fabio Carvalho as a false nine, with the Liverpool loanee having scored the opener from this position in their last home game against West Brom, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Birmingham captain Dion Sanderson was given his marching orders in their 4-3 home defeat to Southampton at the weekend, and he will join the injured pair of Krystian Bielik and Marc Roberts in missing Tuesday’s tie.

This creates a selection headache for assistant manager Mark Venus, in charge of the club in the absence of Tony Mowbray, who may be forced to name full-back Cody Drameh in the centre of defence.

The stats

Birmingham have lost each of their last four away games in all competitions, scoring just once in this run.

However, Hull’s home form has not been too impressive of late with just a single victory across their last four league games at the MKM Stadium.

The Blues have committed 446 fouls in the league this season; with only Millwall having given away more.

Hull winger Jaden Philogene-Bidace has 14 goal contributions in the league, the most of any player in either squad.

Prediction

A win could be of vital importance to both sides but the Tigers may have enough in the tank to get one over the Blues, having already seen off Birmingham in the reverse fixture at St. Andrew’s in October.

Only bottom-of-the-table Rotherham have picked up fewer points on the road than Birmingham’s 11 this season, with three of these coming at fellow strugglers Stoke in January.

Hull have won four of their last five home games against sides currently in the bottom half of the table but victory may not come easily given that the Tigers have kept just one clean sheet at home across their last seven matches.

With each of Birmingham’s last three in the Championship seeing both teams find the net, a winner in the Both Teams to Score market could be on the cards, although a goal for the Blues will likely be in vain in a tight Hull victory.

Back Hull to win and Both Teams to Score @ 11/5 with LiveScore Bet.

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