Hull City vs Watford Prediction: First Tigers game for Selles

Ruben Selles will take charge of his first Hull City game on Wednesday (19:45, Sky Sports+) when the Tigers host Watford at the MKM Stadium. The home side are rooted to the bottom of the table and have failed to win a league game since the beginning of October, while having lost six on the spin.

Watford are perched just outside the play-offs by one point but they are unbeaten in their last four. Read on for my Hull City vs Watford prediction, accompanied by the latest match odds and team news.

Hull City vs Watford Odds

Hull are 13/10 to kick off the Selles era with a victory, which gives them a theoretical chance of 43.5%. Watford are valued at 21/10 to come away with the three points, giving them an implied probability of 32.3% - but they have won just two of their nine away trips this season.

Both teams to score is on offer at 4/6, and has struck in five of Hull's 10 home games this season. Over 2.5 goals is priced at 5/6 for this clash, and it has been a winning selection in seven of Watford's nine away games.

Watford forward Vakoun Bayo has scored seven goals in the Championship so far, and he is 21/10 to score anytime on Wednesday.

Football Odds

Team News

With this being Selles' first game, it is hard to predict what his first starting XI will be. Oscar Zambrano is unavailable due to a doping ban. Charlie Hughes is suspended for this clash having accumulated his fifth yellow card against Blackburn Rovers last time out.

Alfie Jones remains an injury doubt for the Tigers, so Finley Burns could join Sean McLoughlin in the heart of the defence. Lewie Coyle and Ryan Giles could continue as the full-backs but Cody Drameh will also be hoping to impress the new boss.

Liam Millar, Bachir Belloumi and Dogukan Sinik are the attacking players confined to the treatment room, so Selles is not spoilt for choice right now with his options. This means we could see Kasey Palmer, Ryan Longman and Abu Kamara operate behind either Joao Pedro or Chris Bedia in the number nine role.

For Watford, wing-back Ryan Andrews picked up an injury in the draw with Queens Park Rangers at the weekend and is presumed a doubt for the trip to Humberside. Angelo Ogbonna and Tom Dele-Bashiru are definitely sidelined for the Hornets.

If Andrews is to miss out, Festy Ebosele could take his place on the right, with Yasser Larouci keeping his spot on the left. Ryan Porteous, Francisco Sierralta and Mattie Pollock are expected to make up Tom Cleverley's back three once again.

Moussa Sissoko and Imran Louza should continue their partnership in the engine room, while Giorgi Chakvetadze and Edo Kayembe should provide attacking support for striker Bayo.

Watford - draw no bet @ 6/5

Watford have had a disappointing return on the road so far this season (seven points from a possible 27) but they will fancy their chances against a side who have lost six in a row and are winless in over two months.

However, Selles will be hoping to inspire a new manager bounce for the Tigers, and he should have the home side fired up for this match. That being said, it doesn't change the fact that Hull are in dreadful form and have not looked like picking up points in their recent games.

Watford are in a decent position in terms of the play-off race but they will need to improve their points return away from home if they wish to maintain their position. Hull away right now offers them an excellent shot at claiming their third win on the road.

They have better players and better momentum heading into this fixture, so I think they are worth backing to win. Yet, as a result of their away record so far, and the potential new manager bounce, I think covering them in the draw no bet market would be the most sensible selection.

If you are unfamiliar with this particular market, draw no bet means you cover either the home side or away team to win, but if the result is a draw you will get your stake back.

Both teams to score @ 4/6

Having mentioned earlier, BTTS has been a winning selection in five of Hull's league games at the MKM so far, and it has also struck in five of Watford's matches on the road this term.

The Tigers may have scored in just two of their six-game losing streak, but this is where I'm most confident in Selles getting an instant response from his new players. It's his first game, it's at home, and they are playing a side who don't win many games away from Vicarage Road.

The attackers will be out to impress him as they know places will be at stake as he stamps his authority on the team. I also think the Tigers will get on the scoresheet because Watford have conceded in all of their away games so far this season, so there is a degree of vulnerability when they leave Hertfordshire.

I am of course confident in the Hornets finding the back of the net on Wednesday, because Hull have been too easy to score against in recent weeks, and Watford striker Bayo heads here with seven goals to his name already.

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