Hull City vs Derby County predictions: Relegation rivals set to share the spoils
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- Hull City are 20th in the Championship, sitting just two points above the drop zone
- Derby County are one spot behind the Tigers and are level on points with 22nd-placed Luton
- Recommended bet: Draw
A chaotic Easter weekend has left the Championship relegation battle on a knife-edge, with seven teams still in the running to go down, including Hull and Derby, who face off at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides picked up three points from their two Easter fixtures and each will be targeting a maximum haul from this fixture, with the Tigers just two points above the drop zone and the Rams only being kept out of the relegation places on goal difference.
With both teams battling bravely for survival, there is every chance the pair will be hard to split at the MKM.
Team news
Hull may be handed a big boost ahead of this clash as not only is Matt Crooks back from suspension but Louie Barry could be available for the first time since February.
Long-term absentees Eliot Matazo, Mohamed Belloui and Liam Millar remain out and Oscar Zambrano is suspended.
Derby's lengthy injury list is made up of Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Ryan Nyambe, Curtis Nelson, Corey Blackett-Taylor, David Ozoh, Joe Ward, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, Dajaune Brown and Kemar Roofe.
Callum Elder is nearing a return but will need to be assessed, while Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is pushing for a start after netting less than one minute after coming on in County's win over West Brom.
The stats
- Hull have lost just one of their last six home matches
- Only six Championship teams have taken more points from their last 10 games than Derby's 17
- This pair drew 1-1 at Pride Park in October
- The Rams' only loss in four away games was a narrow 1-0 defeat at Swansea
- Both teams won on Easter Monday, with Hull beating Preston 2-1 and Derby landing a 3-1 victory at West Brom
- Hull are yet to win two games in a row under Ruben Selles
Prediction
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With three of the four teams below them also winning, it was a good job Joe Gelhardt converted his two penalties against Preston to secure all three points for Hull on Easter Monday.
The Tigers' fate is in their own hands, as they face the team directly below them, Derby, and another relegation candidate, Preston, in their final two games.
Selles will be eager to avoid things going down to the final day, but history suggests he may not get his wish.
Hull are yet to win two consecutive games under his stewardship and, given the form of the Rams since appointing John Eustace, it is hard to see them losing that unwanted record at the ninth attempt on Saturday.
Only six Championship teams have amassed more points than Derby's 17 across their last 10 games and, high on confidence following Monday's 3-1 win at West Brom, the Rams can secure a draw at the MKM Stadium.
Depending on results elsewhere, that would leave both them and Hull in a precarious position heading into the final day, but with each side battling bravely for survival, it seems likely the points will be shared, just as they were in October's reverse fixture.
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