Preview | Hull City (A)
The Game
Hull City v Argyle. MKM Stadium. Tuesday, 4 March. 7.45pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Hull City are 21st in the Championship, with 33 points from their 34 games. The Tigers began with three draws and two defeats from their opening five games, and then won three in a row. However, this was rather false hope.
Hull then went 13 games without a victory, getting three points in that spell, which ran until mid-December, when Ruben Selles took over. Since then, things have been inconsistent but, from City’s point of view, they have picked up some victories.
In their most recent 13 games, Hull have lost six, won five and drawn two. Their wins have come against Swansea City, Blackburn Rovers, Millwall, Sheffield United and Sunderland. Interestingly, the last four named have all been on the road.
Hull have the worst home record in the division. They have won only twice at home, from 17 fixtures, and have 13 points in all.
The Gaffer
Ruben Selles took the Hull City job in early December, after Tim Walter’s short-lived era was curtailed.
Selles left Reading to head for Humberside, having done a sterling job at Reading, under very restrictive financial circumstances.
Selles’ playing career was nothing to speak of, essentially playing local football, but he was coaching from a young age, and after graduating from the University of Valencia, went to work for Aris Thessaloniki, Villarreal, Stromsgodset and Qarabag.
By 2018, Selles was assistant manager at Danish club Aarhus, and then returned to Valencia to manage their under-19s. He became assistant at Copenhagen, and then moved with Ralph Hassenhuttl to be the number two at Southampton. He stayed at the Saints when Nathan Jones took over, and then after the latter’s departure, Selles took over in the top job, but failed to keep Southampton up.
The Squad
Hull’s midfield and attacking lines have changed a lot during the season, but several of their defenders have played the majority of the Tigers’ league games.
Alfie Jones has been a fixture at centre-back. The tall Bristolian came through the ranks at Southampton, but never featured for the Saints, instead heading out on loan to St Mirren and Gillingham, before being picked up by Hull. Jones now has 181 appearances for the Tigers.
Lewie Coyle (below) has typically been alongside Jones, with Coyle taking the right-back slot. The Hull captain has started 30 of the Tigers’ games, scoring once – and that was against Argyle near the start of the season. Coyle began life at Leeds United, playing a handful of games, but had a rather unusual three-year stint at Fleetwood Town, where all seasons were loans, the final one turning permanent. He then joined Hull, and has now racked up 174 appearances.
Goalkeeper Ivor Pandur has now established himself as the number one between the sticks. The 24-year-old Croatian started with hometown side Rijeka, and moved to Italy to play for Hellas Verona. A loan in the Netherlands with Fortuna Sittard turned permanent, before the switch to Hull in January 2024. He did not play for City last season, but made the spot his own this time round.
Earlier This Season
The teams drew 1-1 at Home Park in the second game of the league season. Ibrahim Cissoko put the Greens in front in the match, but Lewie Coyle equalised with an excellent strike to share the points.
Tickets
Tickets are now off sale. Collections will be available from the MKM Stadium.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will wear their white away kit for this game.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin at 7.15pm, with Charlie Price and Marc Edworthy bringing you build-up to the game, before handing over to the ground for commentary provided by Rob McNichol and Lee Makel.
Match passes to watch this game are available to international audiences. Click here for more information.
Sky Sports+
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports+
