Hull vs Preston Prediction: Lilywhites can light up MKM Stadium

By Ryan Murray

Two managers with very different footballing philosophies battle it out at the MKM Stadium on Tuesday night (19:45 BST, Sky Sports+), as a swashbuckling Hull City outfit led by former Bosnian international Sergej Jakirović meets the pragmatism of Paul Heckingbottom's Preston North End.

The Tigers have taken six points from their opening three home league fixtures this term, with victories over Oxford United and Southampton bookending a chastening 3-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers.

After the high of overcoming the Saints on matchday six, City would have been disappointed to be beaten 2-1 by lowly Watford on Saturday afternoon.

Preston North End have quietly gone about their business in recent weeks, but all of a sudden find themselves occupying sixth place in the Championship table.

The Lilywhites have only suffered one league defeat since the start of the new campaign, going down 1-0 at Portsmouth just before the early international break.

Team News

Having only recently returned from a harrowing anterior cruciate ligament tear, Mohamed Belloumi is now suffering from another injury setback. The Algerian winger was withdrawn at half-time during Hull's 3-1 win over Southampton, subsequently missing Saturday's clash at Vicarage Road.

Another player who knows all too well about the debilitating impact of an ACL injury is Eliot Matazo, who hasn't featured since his team's 1-0 away loss to Cardiff City back in February.

Fellow midfielder Matt Crooks is also unavailable for selection, having struggled with an ankle problem for some time. Meanwhile, Nigerian centre-back Semi Ajayi – who arrived on a free transfer from Championship rivals West Brom in the summer – continues his rehabilitation after straining his hamstring on his Hull City debut.

Heckingbottom also has several injury headaches to contend with, as long-term absentees Jordan Thompson, Robbie Brady, and Will Keane – who are all yet to play a single minute this season – remain sidelined.

The injured Irish trio are joined on the treatment table by Brad Potts, who has now returned to training following a niggling muscle injury.

Welsh defender Andrew Hughes is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season during North End's goalless draw with Bristol City at the weekend.  

Football Odds

Today's Football Fixtures

Hull vs Preston Odds

Hull City are the 5/4 favourites to triumph on home soil, with the draw 9/4 and Preston available at 23/10.

Double Chance: Draw or Preston @ 4/6

Although their performance levels have dipped a little in recent weeks, it would be a real surprise if Preston left the MKM Stadium without at least a share of the spoils.

Heckingbottom's men have admittedly fared better at Deepdale than they have done on the road, but positive results against promotion hopefuls – such as August's 2-1 victory over Leicester City and a stalemate with league leaders Middlesbrough – proves they have more than enough quality to ease past Hull City.  

That's not to say the hosts won't put up a fight. The East Yorkshiremen have delivered several eye-catching displays this term, taking points off several of the division's strongest sides.

Over 2.5 Goals @ 11/10

Hull City have their worst defensive record in the Championship, shipping a colossal 14 goals during their first seven contests. However, the Tigers also netted their 11th league goal in Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Watford, while also scoring on three occasions at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground in the first round of the EFL Cup.

Contrastingly, no team in the division has conceded fewer goals than Preston, who celebrated keeping their fourth clean sheet of the season at the weekend.

At the other end, the Lancashire-based outfit have only averaged one goal per game, after failing to score more than twice in any of their eight competitive matches across all competitions this term.

However, Hull's expansive brand of football may just tease Preston out of their rigid defensive shape, and ironically, encourage the visitors to demonstrate their attacking capabilities.

Offers

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