Preview: Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Hull City will be looking to continue their unbeaten start to the Championship season when they welcome Blackburn Rovers to the MKM Stadium this Saturday afternoon.

The Tigers have picked up four points from their opening two games, while the Riversiders are yet to taste victory this season.

Match preview

Hull City went into the new season facing a number of serious challenges – none more so than the ongoing transfer embargo.

Nevertheless, the Tigers have been able to put together a competitive team, which has so far exceeded early-season expectations.

New manager Sergej Jakirovic may not have any prior experience of English football, though that has not stopped him from leading his side to four points from their opening two matches.

Their first positive result came on the opening weekend of the campaign, with Hull managing to claim a point away at Coventry following a goalless draw. Not long after that, the Yorkshire outfit bagged a stoppage-time winner in a 3-2 success over Oxford United.

Having got off to a strong start, Hull fans will now be feeling confident as their team prepares to host Blackburn.

Speaking of the Riversiders, their season could not have started any worse.

Valerien Ismael, who arrived at Ewood Park in February, has overseen three straight defeats across all competitions – including two Championship losses.

Their first defeat came in the season opener against Ismael’s former club, West Bromwich Albion, where Blackburn managed just one measly shot on target in a 1-0 loss.

Just a few days later, Rovers welcomed League One’s Bradford City to Ewood Park, only to face another agonising defeat.

Their latest disappointment came last week as Blackburn were beaten by Tom Brady-backed and Premier League-chasing Birmingham City.

Hull City Championship form:

D W

Hull City form (all competitions):

D L W

Blackburn Rovers Championship form:

L L

Blackburn Rovers form (all competitions):

L L L

Team News

Hull City have been hit by a virus ahead of this weekend’s fixture, which has further depleted their resources ahead of the weekend.

Matt Crooks has been ruled out through injury, with the player set to join Semi Ajayi and Akin Famewo on the sidelines.

Lewis Coyle is not ready to make his comeback, while Nathan Tinsdale missed training and is not expected to feature.

In better news, Mohamed Belloumi is set to make his return from a serious knee injury, though he is expected to start from the bench.

Blackburn, on the other hand, will be without Ryan Alebiosu, who was stretched off in the match against Birmingham.

Hayden Carter has returned to training and could be in contention for this weekend’s trip to the East Coast, but Adam Forshaw is still a few weeks away from making a full recovery.

Hull City possible starting lineup: Pandur; Giles, Hughes, Egan, Drameh; Lundstram, Crooks; Kamara, Palmer, Gelhardt; McBurnie

Blackburn Rovers possible starting lineup: Toth; Ribeiro, McLoughlin, Hyam, Miller; Tavares, Tronstad; Kargbo, Cantwell, Hedges; Ohashi