THE OPPOSITION
Hull City were riding the crest of a wave at the end of 2018, culminating in Nigel Adkins' Manager of the Month award for December, but that wave seems to be breaking as 2019 progresses.
Victory in the return fixture at the KCOM Stadium two months ago began a run of six straight league successes which catapulted The Tigers into the Play-Off picture midway through Janaury. However, since then Adkins' side have won just one of their last five, losing on the road at both Derby County and Blackburn Rovers to slip back to 12th.
The Tigers scored 25 goals during their nine-match unbeaten league run through December and early January but have found the net just four times in the four games since. Of those 25 goals, Jarrod Bowen (pictured above) scored ten as he picked up the Player of the Month award for December and established himself as one of the second-tier's leading marksmen. The 22-year-old has scored in 12 matches for City this term, with the amber and blacks unbeaten in all but one of those fixtures.
TEAM NEWS
For The Bees, Emiliano Marcondes, Rico Henry, and Lewis Macleod are out injured. Ezri Konsa serves a one-match suspension while Henrik Dalsgaard could return after missing the last two through injury.
Hull welcome back Jordy de Wijs but Angus MacDonald is definitely out. Ondřej Mazuch and Jon Toral are also likely to miss tomorrow's game
THE MANAGER
Nigel Adkins played as a goalkeeper for Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic and was player-boss at Bangor City before he turned 30. After retirement he trained as a physiotherapist and was promoted from the treatment room to the dugout at Scunthorpe United in November 2006. He won promotion in his first season in charge and then took The Iron back up in 2009 after a subsequent relegation.
Having then kept Scunthorpe up, Adkins left for Southampton, and won back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League between 2010 and 2012. Adkins was sacked by Southampton in January 2013 with The Saints comfortably placed in the top flight and he took over at Reading a few months later. He lasted just over a year at The Madjeski Stadium before a stint at Sheffield United preceded his appointment on Humberside in December 2017.
LAST-TIME AROUND
Ahead of tomorrow's game, take a look back to our 3-2 win over The Tigers on Humberside back in September 1998.
PRE-MATCH FEATURES
🗣 Thomas previews tomorrow's encounter
🗣 Bentley: "It is important that we put on a performance"
🔶🔴 Tim Robinson will take charge of Saturday's game
🆚 Rob Staton, Sports Editor at BBC Look North, previews The Tigers
TICKET INFO
Tickets for Saturday's game, where we are trying to make it six straight home wins, are on General Sale now from just £23 adults and £6 Juniors.
Season Ticket Holders and Club Members can also bring up to two mates for just £10 each.
Buy online now
MATCH COVERAGE
Matchday Live will be brought to you from Griffin Park with live iFollow commentary and analysis from the New Road Stand. Mark Burridge is your host from 2.30pm.
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