Hull vs Birmingham Prediction: All eyes on Blues following Rooney’s exit

Hull City take on Birmingham City in the third round of the FA Cup at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon (15:00) in what will be the Blues' first game since the departure of Wayne Rooney as manager. The former Derby County boss was let go following a 3-0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road in which it was clear he had lost the backing of the supporters.

Steve Spooner is back in temporary charge of Birmingham while the club hierarchy seek out Rooney's successor. They know they need to get this one right after their decision to replace John Eustace with Rooney saw them drop from sixth in the Championship table to 20th.

While they were swift in bringing Rooney in to replace Eustace, it appears as though they are being patient with their next appointment. Luckily for them they have a break from league action, which is most likely why they decided to make another change in the dugout. However, they will still want to see Spooner get a performance out of his players this weekend on Humberside.

Hull will be looking to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last time out and given the current predicament Birmingham are in, they have an opportunity to rediscover their confidence.

Match Odds

Hull are 4/6 to beat the struggling Blues in 90 minutes, which doesn't offer great value to punters. A draw can be backed at 13/5, while Birmingham are 10/3 to come away with the victory.

Both teams to score here is valued at 8/11, which is the same price as backing over 2.5 goals.

Team News

Tigers boss Liam Rosenior will be pleased to have midfielder Tyler Morton available for selection after the red card he received against the Owls was overturned following an appeal. They are still having to cope without star player Jaden Philogene, however, but it doesn't seem like the attacker is too far away from a return to action.

Birmingham welcome back Krystian Bielik to the fold following his three-game suspension, which will come as a big boost in the midfield for Spooner. Alfie Chang (knee), George Hall (hamstring), Marc Roberts and Ethan Laird (hip) all remain in the treatment room.

Hull and both teams to score @ 12/5

With a second manager departure this season, Birmingham are back in familiar territory which they thought they were going to be leaving behind following their summer takeover. The club are hovering just above the relegation zone by six points and they are in need of someone who can guide them back up the table swiftly.

Spooner is unlikely to be that man but he is likely going to take charge for this cup tie and he will try and rally his players to put in a strong performance for the fans, as well as trying to raise their confidence ahead of the new boss coming in.

Hull haven't been in the best form of late but they are still viewed as the favourites here. They defeated the Blues 2-0 at St Andrew's in what was Rooney's first home game in charge of the West Midlands outfit. Birmingham made it very easy for Hull to win that game back in October and we are expecting them to put up more of a fight in this encounter.

The hosts's stability on the field could be the decisive factor in this one. They have one of the best young coaches in the game in Rosenior leading them, and they are only going to get better with him at the helm. His tactical intelligence will give his side an edge here but he will be wary that the Blues' players will have a point to prove after two months of the campaign have gone to waste.

Expect goals at both ends in this one but Hull to prevail inside 90 minutes.

Aaron Connolly to score in 90 minutes @ 7/4

A testament to the work Rosenior has been doing as a coach can be measured in the transformation of Aaron Connolly. For years the Republic of Ireland attacker looked lost at Brighton & Hove Albion as he couldn't find the consistency to hold a place in their ever-growing side.

Rosenior saw his potential and brought him to Hull, initially on loan, last January, before signing him permanently in the summer. Connolly managed two goals during his loan stint but has already produced eight goals in the league in 2023-24, with three goals in his last five outings.

He continues to grow into a key figure for the Tigers and it is clear the impact that Rosenior is having on his career. By getting regular minutes on the pitch and having the faith of his manager, Connolly is playing the best football we have seen in his professional career, and he is a player Birmingham will need to monitor closely on Saturday.

The Irishman is one of the most in-form players in the Championship right now and he will be itching to feature against a Birmingham side that is currently fragile and we fancy him to continue his impressive run in front of goal and open his FA Cup account for the season.