Having moved level on points with sixth-placed West Brom with their win over Millwall on Tuesday night, Bristol City’s attention now turns to Saturday afternoon’s clash with Hull City.
Liam Manning’s side are unbeaten in their last four Championship outings and have the chance to stretch their winning run to three games for the first time this season against Ruben Selles’ side. Three points against the Tigers could be enough to see City climb as high as fifth if other results are to go their way.
Despite finishing within touching distance of the play-offs last season, the 2024/25 campaign has been incredibly challenging for Hull. The Tigers currently sit 19th in the Championship, just five points clear of the relegation zone. While they remain in danger of the drop, two wins in their last three games, including a 2-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle last time out, have helped Selles build the gap to the bottom three.
The former Reading boss took over the reins in December of last year after Tim Walter was sacked. The German was relieved of his duties after just 17 league matches having led the Tigers on a nine-match winless run that left them stranded in the relegation zone.
When the two sides met at the MKM Stadium on the opening day of the season, the points were shared in a 1-1 draw. Fally Mayulu’s debut strike had given Manning’s side a second-half lead but Oscar Estupinan levelled from the penalty spot in stoppage time following a foul by Joe Williams.
An awful lot of football has been played since that meeting in August and a lot has changed in the Tigers’ camp in particular. Ahead of Saturday’s game, Bristol Live spoke to Hull Live’s Barry Cooper to get the latest insight from the MKM Stadium this season…
How would you evaluate Hull City’s season so far?
It’s been a disaster.
From the moment Liam Rosenior was sacked three days after last season finished to where we are now, it’s been a complete catastrophe. City have gone from being a squad challenging for the play-offs to one fighting to stay in the Championship in 12 months. Hopefully, between now and May 3, Ruben Selles can ensure the Tigers remain in the Championship and live to fight another day.
Tim Walter’s reign was a calamity; recruitment was late and a mixed bag, with City having to replace the likes of Fabio Carvalho, Jacob Greaves, Tyler Morton and Jaden Philogene, while key players have been rocked by major injuries. Their two big summer signings, Mohamed Belloumi and Liam Millar, did their ACLs within two weeks of each other, and January signing Eliot Matazo did his ACL last week in Cardiff. Kasey Palmer and Charlie Hughes have both missed chunks of the season, while loan signing Carl Rushworth missed three months, came back, played three games and then went back to Brighton.
Another of their exciting summer signings, Oscar Zambrano, was slapped with a 16-month ban for alleged doping breaches when he played in Ecuador. That probably sums up how it’s been.
Their home form has been a shambles, though at least City did win a third MKM Stadium meeting on Tuesday night in a game they simply had to win. Selles has been a really positive influence and has found a way to win games, albeit in a slightly back-to-front way. Often losing to rivals at the bottom, but taking points off those at the top – Leeds United, Sheffield United, Sunderland etc.
Ultimately, the biggest success for City this season is to survive in the Championship, and if they can do that, which, given the quality in their squad and money spent, they should do, then there’s every reason to be optimistic for next season, if the summer is calmer under Selles and recruitment is smart and focussed.
What sort of impact has Ruben Selles had since taking over?
It’s been really positive. He’s found it difficult to rid the squad of the effects of Walter’s mad-dog approach and lift confidence, but has gradually overcome that and is sending out a team capable of winning football matches. He’s made mistakes, as you’d expect; however, it’s been a decent improvement during a really tough time. As we know in football, and in this league, when you get on a downward slope, it’s very hard to get off it and that’s been the case. Scoring goals have been a problem all season, but he’s picked up some big scalps and is often let down in the next home game.
His team is organised and disciplined, and they’ve been competitive in every game so far, probably barring a 30-minute spell in the first half at Burnley when they fell to sleep and were punished. He’s won six games, drawn two and lost seven, which for a team that looked hopeless when he arrived, is a decent turnaround, given the factors he’s had to deal with as outlined previously.
The players have responded to his methods, and the fans have taken to him and his approach. It’s not all been plain sailing, but it was never going to be given what he inherited and the position they were in.
How is former City man Kasey Palmer getting on with the Tigers?
In truth, he’s not really got going yet. A popular character around the training ground, Palmer has shown glimpses of his talent. Unfortunately, he picked up an ankle injury at Coventry City – his former club – in early December and has been out injured since, only returning against Plymouth on Tuesday night when he came off the bench for the final few moments.
Given the ACL injuries to Millar, Belloumi and Matazo, coupled with the knee injury which has Louie Barry sidelined, having Kasey back fit and available will be a big plus for Selles, and then hopefully, we can get to see the best of him because we all know that on his day, Palmer is a matchwinner – and City need as many of those as they can get their hands on.
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Who are the key players Bristol City fans should be looking out for?
In an attacking sense, Joe Gelhardt has caught the eye since coming in from Leeds United in January, while winger Abu Kamara blows hot and cold, though, on his day, is a real threat. On loan Bayer Leverkusen youngster Gustavo Puerta is another with talent and played well in midweek, while Steven Alzate is a one to watch in the middle of the park.
What’s your predicted line-up and how do you see the game going?
Predicted XI: Pandur, McLoughlin, Hughes, Jones, Coyle (c), Puerta, Alzate, Crooks, Gelhardt, Joseph, Kamara.
Given Hull City’s woeful record at Ashton Gate – five straight defeats and one league win since 1965 – coupled with the Robins’ terrific form, most people will expect a fairly routine home win. That said, if the Tigers side that won 3-0 at Sheffield United or at Sunderland turns up, then they’ve got every chance of winning.
If not, and we see a repeat of the first half at Burnley, then it’ll be tough, given the hosts attacking quality. Given that this is the Championship and that the only predictable thing is its unpredictability, I’ll go for the Tigers to cause something of a shock and claim a second league win in the best part of 60 years. 1-2.