Author

James Crawley writes

Posted Friday, April 20th 2018 @CrawleyJames92

Big Match Preview: Hull City home

Friday, April 20th 2018

City are seeking maximum points from their final three games of the 2017/18 season, starting with Hull City's visit to Ashton Gate.

They can do no more than win their remaining fixtures if they are to push for the play-offs and the belief in the camp is they can do just that.

Hull have all but confirmed their safety from the drop but will head to BS3 determined to cross that line and seal the job.

They were under pressure the last time these two sides met but looked odds on to secure victory after taking a 2-0 lead back in November. However, Aden Flint and Bobby Reid sparked a second-half comeback, before Josh Brownhill fired home from distance as the game neared its end at the KCOM Stadium.

FACTFILE

Formed: 1904
Nickname: Tigers
Website: www.hullcitytigers.com
Twitter: @HullCity
Ground: KCOM Stadium
Capacity: 25,450

Honours:
First Division: Play-off winners in 2007/08, 2015/16
Second Division:1965/66 Champions, 1958/59, 2004/05 Runners-up.
Third Division: 1982/83, 2003/04 Runners-up.
Football League Third Division North: 1932/33, 1948/49.
FA Cup: 2014 Runners-up.

Last season:
Premier League: 18th
FA Cup: Fourth round, lost to Fulham
EFL Cup: Semi-final lost to Manchester United
Top scorer: Robert Snodgrass (9 all comps)
Average attendance: 20,761.

HOW DID THEY GET HERE?

Hull City rose up the ranks from the old Division Three to the Premier League in recent years but this season they have mostly struggled since dropping to the Sky Bet Championship last summer.

Just six years after they were formed in 1904, the Tigers – nicknamed as such after their kit colours – came close to top-flight football and they would have to endure a 98-year wait before finally clinching their place in the Premier League, at the expense of City, in THAT 2008 play-off final at Wembley.

The club have enjoyed more promotions and suffered relegation since the turn of the century, as well as a near FA Cup triumph.

But their 2017/18 campaign has been one to forget as they tread dangerous waters just above the drop.

MEET THE GAFFER - NIGEL ADKINS

Former goalkeeper Adkins ended his playing career with Bangor City in February 1996, becoming a full-time manager a whole decade later.

He was a physiotherapist at Scunthorpe United when he was made caretaker manager, following the departure of Brian Laws. But he was made permanent boss of the Iron by December, steering them to promotion from League One in May.

A member of the Welsh Premier League hall of fame, Adkins joined Southampton in 2010, earning remarkable, consecutive promotions to reach the Premier League for the 2012/13 campaign.

Spells with Reading and Sheffield United followed where he fell short of the play-offs. He is now looking to avoid relegation at Hull City, following the departure of Leonid Slutsky

STAR MAN - JARROD BOWEN

Bowen is enjoying his finest campaign as part of the Hull City attack, with his goals scattered across the season, including one in this reverse fixture back in November.

As such, the 21-year-old English striker / winger will no doubt raise eyebrows among those close to the national squad.

Bowen was named the EFL Young Player of the Month for August and has "taken his chance to impress" at the KCOM, the Daily Mail reported in late September.

Brownhill drives forward against Hull City

MEMORABLE MEETING - NOVEMBER 25TH 2017

Hull City 2-3 Bristol City

Sky Bet Championship

Goals: Campbell 33, Bowen 61, Flint 68, Reid 79, Brownhill 89.

A late Josh Brownhill wonder goal capped off a brilliant second-half comeback as City beat Hull 3-2 at the KCOM Stadium.

Goals from Aden Flint, Bobby Reid and a long-range cracker from Brownhill wiped out the home side’s two-goal lead, as City left Humberside with all three points.

Fraizer Campbell had fired the former Premier League side ahead before Jarrod Bowen notched his 10th goal of the season.

City then halved the deficit not long after the hour mark thanks to Flint’s fifth goal of the campaign. The tall defender smashed home from close range after Eliasson’s free kick had to be cleared off the line.

The equaliser came 11 minutes later following a Jamie Paterson free kick to the left of the Hull penalty area. The ball was headed down in the box to the grateful Reid but he couldn’t make great contact with his initial swipe. Fortunately for City’s leading scorer, he connected with his second attempt and struck it beyond McGregor.

City were on top and completed the comeback in incredible style thanks to midfielder Brownhill as the 90th minute arrived.

It was a brilliant run from the 21-year-old midfielder as he drove forward from the edge of the centre circle, picking the ball up from Paterson, and he placed his shot beyond the diving McGregor from range.

It had been a frustrating afternoon at times for the players and the travelling fans but it was all cheers at the final whistle.

Attendance: 14,762