Hull City

Image source, Opta

Fourth and fifth in the Championship face-off on Saturday (12:30 GMT) as Millwall head to the MKM Stadium to play Hull City.

The Lions are fourth, four points behind second-placed Middlesbrough and a point behind Ipswich, in third, after four wins in their past five games, most recently 2-0 at Preston last Saturday.

The Tigers edged to a 1-0 win at Portsmouth last Saturday but went down 1-0 at Ipswich in their rearranged game on Tuesday night, their third defeat in five matches, to remain fifth, two points behind Millwall but with a seven-point cushion to the play-off chasing pack.

• Hull are looking for their first league double over Millwall since the 2012-13 campaign under Steve Bruce.

• Millwall are winless in seven league matches against Hull (D3 L4) since a 2-1 win in April 2022 when Gary Rowett was Lions boss.

• Hull have conceded eight goals in their past three home league games, shipping 2+ goals in each game. They last did so in four in a row in August/September 2022.

• Millwall have won their past three away league games – the Lions last had a longer away winning run between January and March 2018 (6 in a row).

• Femi Azeez has been involved in six goals in his past nine Championship appearances for Millwall (2 goals, 4 assists), with three assists across his past five games.

Image source, Shutterstock

Earlier we asked what you make of the news that, from next season, the Championship play-offs will be expanded to include the teams finishing seventh and eighth?

It was announced on Thursday morning that EFL clubs voted in favour of expanding the play-offs from four to six teams.

Here's a selection of your comments...

Josh, Derby: I don't believe this is necessary. I do think that the play-off format should be aligned throughout the top five leagues, but expanding isn't needed. Better distribution of the monies involved and establishing a clear matchday structure to balance various men's and women's leagues would be a better use of everyone's time. This strikes me undue American influence.

Callum, Dartford: I think it's a good thing so teams can push for promotion that thought they wouldn't get near the play-offs.

Cato, Sheffield: If we adopted it to this season, it means that eighth-placed Derby (on 51 points) have about as much a chance of going up as third-placed Millwall (on 63 points). Plus, to accommodate the extra games, would they extend the season into June? I don't like the idea of it at all, and I hope it's short-lived.

Steve, London: Another example of football being ruined, week by week. Don't you dare think about implementing VAR too.

Mark, Stafford: As a Stoke fan, I think it's good news. The season has come to a grinding halt due to being decimated by injuries. Add to that, the quality of what is coming down from the Premier League, it would mean upsets can happen and still allow teams in that mid-table race to dream of greater heights!

Richard, Stansted: Absolutely ridiculous. What is the point of a league format if you are going to make it a bigger lottery to include even more teams at the end of the season? It also brings teams that are even less ready to actually be in the Premier League into scope. But mostly it's the undermining of the league format which makes no sense. I'm a Derby fan - and we look like we would have a chance of benefiting from this if it were in place this season.

Andy, Nuneaton: Anything that expands the opportunities for those outside of the parachute teams is a good thing. We need to get away from this elite view of the Premier League. If it was up to them, they'd stop automatic promotion and relegation and have a system like Rugby Union, where it's based on meeting certain criteria. The eighth-placed club in the Championship getting to the PL? Bring it on!

Ron, Hayling: Money, Money, Money. Players complain about the amount of games they play with the league games and cup competitions so the intention is to play even more at the end of the season. Owners will make some money but that's all that matters!

Barry, Dartford: Yes it's a fantastic for everyone, all the small teams as well as the big boys, to have something to play for. It will give the end of the season something to look forward to.

Benjamin, Poole: I'm a Charlton fan, so it's unlikely we'll come 8th in the Championship any time soon, however, this is ridiculous. More pandering to Americans to make it more likely they'll make money, which is the only thing they care about. Sporting integrity out of the window again. Shame as I felt the Championship was the last bastion of quality and integrity combined. Game has gone.

Broughton, Derby: Absolute ridiculous, put it back to the old days of three straight up, no play-offs. If you don't make top-three you don't deserve to go up.

Julian, London: The worst decision from a footballing point of view ever! The National League teams have been trying to change their system to be like the current EFL system so it seems a very strange decision for the EFL to take. You can finish 8th after 46 games and still get promoted - sporting integrity has been totally lost with this decision. Money over integrity every time!

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City have exercised their option to extend Regan Slater's contract by a further year meaning the midfielder is under agreement until 2027.

The 26-year-old joined the side on loan from Sheffield United in 2020 before making the switch permanent in January 2022.

Slater has been a mainstay on boss Sergej Jakirovic's teamsheet, making an appearance in all 35 of the side's Championship games this season.

Of those 35 fixtures, he has played all 90 minutes in 21 games, scoring twice and making two assists.

Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic said his side's approach was the right one in the narrow 1-0 defeat at Ipswich.

The Tigers frustrated the hosts for large periods but were undone by a superb strike from Azor Matusiwa.

Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside: "Ipswich were the better side but they did not have many chances. They started to play with three number 10s and we got too deep.

"The goal I cannot understand. We must take the ball. We had five players there and they had one.

"We tried to push and create something but we could not score the goal. They have very good players who are technically fantastic, so we had a low block and it worked apart from needing better decisions.

"Our idea was good. They have a bigger budget and this is the only way we can compete with them."

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic insists the Tigers are "not afraid" of promotion rivals Ipswich Town heading into Tuesday's key Championship trip to Portman Road.

The Tigers are fifth in the table, seven points inside the play-off places, and among a cluster of clubs - including fourth-placed Ipswich - hoping to chase down Middlesbrough in the second automatic promotion spot.

"I'm not afraid of Ipswich," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside. "It will be a very good game because already we have shown this season we can play good football against them. I just hope it's a good game."

Hull City only stayed up in the second tier on the final day of the 2024-25 season courtesy of goal difference.

Under Jakirovic, who was appointed last July, they are now a serious contender for a return to the Premier League, with pivotal games against promotion rivals Ipswich, Millwall and Wrexham across the next eight days.

"We must keep going forward," Jakirovic added. "We now have 60 points, and it's not by accident.

"Sometimes you lose the game, sometimes you win, but we are in a good position. We will push more.

"Everything is on us. We must give everything so that at the end of the season we don't regret anything. So, give everything without any stress of any pressure, just enjoying the ride."

The Tigers are boosted by the timely return of influential midfielder Matt Crooks after seven matches out with injury.

The 32-year-old came off the bench on Saturday to score the decisive goal in their 1-0 win at Portsmouth, eight months after his effort at the same ground helped to keep the Tigers in the Championship.

"He's a very important player to us," Jakirovic added. "We missed him a lot because he gives us a lot of energy, a lot of challenges, second balls, and he's very important in set-pieces as well."

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City assistant head coach Marco Salatovic has been charged with misconduct by the FA following their Championship match with Derby County on 24 February.

The FA said the 41-year-old Croatian is alleged to have "acted in an improper manner in or around the 74th minute" of the game leading to his dismissal by referee Adam Herczeg.

Salatovic has until Wednesday, 4 March to respond to the charge.

He was charged and fined £1,500, external last month after admitting the same charge of misconduct in two incidents during Hull's match against Southampton on Saturday, 17 January.

Ipswich Town could enter the automatic promotion places if they are to win against Hull City on Tuesday evening (19:45 GMT).

The Tractor Boys are three points short of current second place holders Middlesbrough, but a superior goal difference will mean Boro will lose out should Ipswich win and Middlesbrough lose to Birmingham City on Monday night (20:00 GMT).

But the Tigers have their own motivation for victory. Three points would also move them level on points with the Teesside club as it stands and while it's unlikely they can make up the goals to reach second on this occasion, they will be piling on the pressure to do so next time around.

• After their 2-0 win in November, Ipswich could complete their first ever league double over Hull City – this is the 21st league campaign in which the two sides have faced.

• Hull City have lost three of their last four league meetings with Ipswich (D1), as many as their previous 25 beforehand (W14 D8 L3).

• Ipswich have only lost one of their last 21 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games in the Championship (W14 D6), a 0-3 defeat to Charlton in October 2025.

• After losing six successive away league games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) from November 2024 to November 2025, Hull won their last such fixture 3-0 at Preston in January.

• Chuba Akpom has scored in all three of his league appearances against Hull City (3 goals), including as a substitute for Ipswich in the reverse fixture in November.

Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic spoke to BBC Radio Humberside following their 1-0 win at Portsmouth.

"We didn't play good, our performance was average. We missed a lot in possession, you can play but you don't have control – (we made) unforced errors, giving the ball away," he said.

"At half- time we agreed we can play with much more confidence - be more vertical and we increased energy with the substitutions – (we were) not 100% in the first half.

"I was angry – it wasn't our face, our performance. I don't care any more about impressions but I would like that we play much better.

"I felt that we had one chance because we were mostly in our half. We took three points which is most important."

Image source, Coventry City FC

You might not hear the old terrace refrain of 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' as often as you used to, but it still has a better ring than 'the shirt's not fit for you to wear'.

Championship leaders Coventry City launched a new collection on Friday, proudly taking inspiration from a kit widely dubbed the 'Worst of All Time'.

A take on the club's infamous brown change strip worn away from Highfield Road from 1978 to 1981, the modern reinvention features what the club calls "a deeper chocolate plum colour with sky blue elements".

Many would suggest it sounds tastier than it looks.

But it's got us thinking... what are actually the worst EFL kits of all time? Let us know which of your club's shirts is hiding in the back of the wardrobe, or even if they were too ugly for you to even part money for them.

We'll collate a list of the biggest eyesores and will give you the chance to vote on the ghastliest of all next week.

Click here to let us know your suggestion, and you can even attach a picture if you really want to convey the horror.

Hull City defender Ryan Giles will be out for eight weeks with a hamstring injury, according to head coach Sergej Jakirovic.

The 26-year-old left-back was forced off with the injury early in the second-half of Tuesday night's 4-2 win over Derby County in the Championship.

It is the second hamstring issue of the season for Giles, who missed the whole of January.

"I expected it to be six weeks, so he's missing another two weeks. It's his other leg, so it's not the same muscle," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"He never had this in his life before, but we cannot change anything, so we are looking forward to getting him back at least a couple of games before the end of the season."

Giles' absence increases the Tigers' defensive problems with Matty Jacob also out for at least six weeks with a knee injury.

"Every injury is a big blow for our team as they are big players for us. He [Giles] played a lot of games, and more worries for us is Matty Jacob is also injured, so we don't have any natural options [at left-back].

"We have Akin Famewo, but he is more a centre-back. But we will see for Saturday."

Hull are fifth in the Championship table and visit Portsmouth on Saturday (12:30 GMT), but will also be without on-loan Bristol City winger Yu Hirakawa, who is set to have surgery for an ankle injury.

Listen to more Hull City content and interviews on BBC Sounds.

Portsmouth go into this game five points clear of the Championship's relegation zone although a two-game winning streak on the road was ended by defeat at Wrexham on Tuesday night.

For their part, Hull City halted a two-match losing sequence by beating Derby in midweek and will hope to complete a first league double over Pompey for nearly 60 years.

• Portsmouth are winless in their past four league games against Hull City (D2 L2), last having a longer run against the Tigers between 1974 and 1980 (D3 L2).

• Following their 3-2 win in November, Hull City are looking to complete their first league double over Portsmouth since 1966-67.

• Portsmouth lost their past home league match and have only twice lost consecutively at Fratton Park since the start of last season (September 2024 and October 2025).

• Hull have won their past four away league games, last winning five in a row on the road in April 1966 in the third tier.

• Joe Gelhardt has scored more away goals than any other Hull player in the Championship this season (five), and has netted four goals in his past six starts on the road.

Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic says that his side's physical approach and teamwork were vital in their victory over play-off rivals Derby.

He told BBC Radio Humberside that the difference between this performance and last weekend's shock home loss to QPR was that the team "fought as one".

"A great victory for us. It was a great team effort.

"We played a little bit different today, pragmatic, because of the pitch. We were very aggressive, on the front foot.

"It was a very nervous game, but we were very strong in the challenges, completely different from Saturday.

"It was a demanding game, because Derby are a very strong team physically. For us, scoring the fourth goal when we did was perfect as it ended the game."

Hull City assistant manager Dean Holden says winger Yu Hirakawa will see a specialist to determine the extent of an ankle injury.

Hirakawa came off in Saturday's defeat at home by QPR and faces a spell on the sidelines.

Holden said the extent of the injury will be determined on Tuesday but admits it is a blow to be without him.

"He is going to see the specialist," he told BBC Radio Humberside. "We'll have more information after that meeting.

"It was innocuous. He came off in a lot of pain with swelling in the ankle after he flipped it over.

"It is in the hands of the experts, we'll await the outcome. It is another unfortunate one for us.

"He has really impressed with his quality and energy. The fans have really taken to him, as have the boys. It'll be a big miss for us."

Holden also confirmed midfielder Matt Crooks is expected to be in the squad against Derby after stepping up his recovery.

"We expect Crooksy to be back in the squad. He trained this morning and looks OK. He is a good player and brings something different to the team.

"He's been out for a period of time and not trained a great deal. We'll have to see how many minutes he'll play."

Derby County will seek to regain their place in the top six when they make the trip to fifth placed Hull City on Tuesday (19:45 GMT)

A 2-0 loss to Watford on the weekend meant the Rams were ousted to eighth but are still just three points away from their former haunt of sixth, now occupied by Wrexham.

However, while the Tigers might have a five point cushion in the play-off spots, no wins in their past three games (D1 L2) will have them hungry to try and stop the rot before they come into striking distance of those below.

• Hull are winless in their last six league games against Derby (D1 L5) since a 2-0 home win in October 2019.

• Derby have won each of their last two away league games against Hull both via 1-0 scorelines and will be looking to claim three away victories in succession in this fixture for the first time.

• Derby have won each of their last three away league games against Yorkshire sides, having lost nine consecutive visits to the county before this.

• Derby are unbeaten in their last 11 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W7 D4), conceding just five goals in that run since a 1-0 loss against Sunderland in January 2025.

• Derby manager John Eustace has won all three of his away league games against Hull City, with his sides keeping a clean sheet each time.