Match Pack: Hull City v Watford

• Hull City v Watford
• Sky Bet Championship
• MKM Stadium
• Saturday December 2, 3pm KO
• Blue third kit

• Referee: John Busby
• Assistant Referees: Richard Wild and Jonathan Hunt
• Fourth Official: Ben Toner

Having finished 15th in the Sky Bet Championship last term, Hull City have largely impressed throughout 2023/24 so far, and welcome the Hornets to the North East sat inside the play-off positions.

Currently in his first full season in charge - having been appointed as Head Coach in November 2022 - Liam Rosenior guided the Tigers to an eight-game unbeaten run across August and September, while more recently the side have triumphed in two of their last three outings.

Summer signings Jaden Philogene, Liam Delap and Aaron Connolly have all impressed with 16 league goals between them, with the former netting twice in a 4-1 thrashing of Rotherham United on Tuesday night.

• Since a 2-1 home defeat for Watford against Hull in December 2012, at least one side in the five league matches since has kept a clean sheet (Watford: 3, Hull: 3).

• Only Leicester (14) and Ipswich (10) have scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of Championship games this season than the Golden Boys (9), with Yáser Asprilla netting a 77th-minute winner against Norwich last time out.

• The Tigers are looking to record three successive home wins against Watford in the Football League for the first time, since November 1978 under Ken Houghton.

For a full statistical breakdown, check out Stats Buzz: Hull City In Numbers.

Watford will be without Giorgi Chakvetadze and long-term absentee Jeremy Ngakia, but skipper Daniel Bachmann is available again following suspension.

Hosts Hull are set to be without Rúben Vinagre after he was ruled out for a month prior to last weekend’s draw at Swansea. Regan Slater will be available though, having featured for the first time since late September in midweek.

Valérien Ismaël, Watford Head Coach:

“We will have to stay stable and make sure that we develop confidence in the game. Especially with away games, it is important to make sure you’ve got a clear picture of what’s going on on the pitch during the first 15 minutes.

“After that we have to make sure to be brave with the ball and make the opponent feel that anything can happen at any time - we have the quality to do that. We are well organised and defensively we are strong, but we need something else. We are an attacking team, but we need to show it.”

Liam Rosenior, Hull City Head Coach:

“Valérien Ismaël is doing a really good job. He’s got Watford playing with a lot of energy and confidence, and that was in my thinking when I made the changes I did in the second half [v Rotherham].

“It’s going to be another really tough game. The lads need to keep their feet on the floor and make sure we learn some positive lessons and go and perform again on Saturday.”

Overall:

Won: 12
Drawn: 16
Lost: 18

Last Six:

April 2023: Hull City 1-0 Watford (Championship)
December 2022: Watford 0-0 Hull City (Championship)
April 2017: Hull City 2-0 Watford (Premier League)
October 2016: Watford 1-0 Hull City (Premier League)
April 2013: Hull City 0-1 Watford (Championship)
December 2012: Watford 1-2 Hull City (Championship)

Troy Deeney’s first-half strike proved the difference between Hull and Watford back in April 2013, with the three points firing the Hornets to within one point of the Championship’s automatic promotion places.