Hull City vs Middlesbrough kick-off, date & TV info
Date Friday, December 5
Kick-off 8pm
Venue MKM Stadium, Hull
Competition Championship
TV Sky Sports Football
Kim Hellberg, the Championship’s newest manager, takes charge of his second game at Middlesbrough, swapping the Tees for the Humber and a showdown with Hull.
The Swede oversaw a 2-1 win over Derby in his first game and a second success would firmly cement Boro in second place, while a win for Sergej Jakirovic’s Hull would almost certainly send the Tigers into the playoff places.
Hull City vs Middlesbrough betting tips & predictions
Best bet
Both teams to score & over 2.5 goals
2pts 23-20 general
Player shots
Joe Gelhardt over 0.5 shots on target
6-10 Hills
Longshot
Hull to win or draw and four to six goals in the match
11-2 bet365
Hull City vs Middlesbrough preview
Middlesbrough aren’t quite second in the Championship by default but it has been a seat-of-the-pants ride for the north-east club over recent weeks.
Boro had won only one of six matches under Rob Edwards and Adi Viveash before Kim Hellberg arrived from Sweden to steady the ship.
He managed that, in as much as he masterminded a 2-1 debut triumph over Derby, but it was edgy and messy and exposed the defensive issues that hindered both Edwards and Viveash, mainly because of a long injury list.
Hellberg has made no secret that he wants to be positive and he will take that approach to Hull, one of the most potent and leaky sides in the second tier.
Only runaway leaders Coventry have scored more goals than ninth-placed Hull, but only crisis club Sheffield Wednesday have conceded more.
Hull can be anything and Hellberg advocates a gung-ho approach, so surely the first port of call for any punter has to be both teams to score and over 2.5 goals.
That market is certainly easier to assess than the match betting. Hull have won five at home and Boro three away but the Teessiders are on an ordinary run of two wins in seven games.
Hull have lost two of their last five, though all was forgiven last weekend when they went to Stoke and won 2-1.
Gelhardt to undo Boro’s brittle barricades
The return to fitness of Oli McBurnie and Liam Miller piles the pressure on Hull’s forwards, but it’s pressure Joe Gelhardt can embrace. Gelhardt has scored in seven of his last nine appearances and can find the target.
Hull have been involved in nine games this season to feature between four and six goals and this could be another of those.
Hull City vs Middlesbrough Bet Builder
Over 2.5 Hull cards
Hull collected four yellows at Stoke last week and average 2.3 cautions per game, and attack-minded Boro will test both their discipline and the timing of their tackles.
Morgan Whittaker to have a shot on target
Whittaker has taken his time to blossom at the Riverside but with three shots on target on each of his last three outings, he can get at least one on target.
Hull to win either half
Boro’s form isn’t the best, their defence is short-handed and Hull have every chance of at least winning a half in front of their own fans.
Pays out at 17-2 with bet365
Key stats for Hull City vs Middlesbrough
♦ Thirteen of Hull’s 18 league matches this season have produced over 2.5 goals
♦ Middlesbrough had 21 shots in last week’s 2-1 win over Derby, up on their seasonal average of 13.1
♦ Hull boast the third-worst disciplinary record in the Championship with 41 cards (2.3 per game)
♦ Boro have won all eight games in which they have scored first and won only one of the ten games when they conceded first
Hull City vs Middlesbrough betting odds
Sign up with Sky Bet to bet on Hull City vs Middlesbrough in Championship. Here are the latest odds for Friday’s match.
MarketOddsHull City21-10Middlesbrough5-4Draw23-10
Odds correct at time of publishing
Want more top football betting advice? Make sure you take a look at Racing Post Sport’s tips for more of the latest picks from our experts.
Hull City vs Middlesbrough team news and predicted line-ups
Hull City
Hull could welcome back striker Oli McBurnie, who has missed six weeks with a calf problem. Fellow frontman Liam Miller could also make the bench after five weeks out. Cody Drameh is still sidelined.
Predicted line-up (4-4-2): Pandur; Coyle, Ajayi, Egan, Giles; Gelhardt, Slater, Gyabi, Ndala; Crooks, Destan.
Subs: Famewo, Hughes, Lundstram, Hadziahmetovic, Joseph, McBurnie, Miller
Middlesbrough
Defenders Dael Fry, Luke Ayling, Daragh Lenihan and George Edmundson all look set to be missing for Boro. Aidan Morris hopes to have recovered from a turned ankle.
Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Brynn; Brittain, Jones, Target, Bangura; Browne, Hackney; Whittaker, Hansen, Burgzorg; Conway.
Subs: McCormick, Morris, Nypan, Silvera, McGree, Strelec, Sene.
Read more:
The Early Bird: Weekend football predictions & free betting accumulator tips from Steve Davies
FAQs
When is Hull City vs Middlesbrough?
The Championship clash between Hull and Middlesbrough is scheduled to kick off at 8pm GMT on Friday, December 5.
Where is Hull City vs Middlesbrough being played?
Hull City will take on Middlesbrough at their home ground, the MKM Stadium, in Kingston-upon-Hull.
Where can I watch Hull City vs Middlesbrough?
Friday’s Championship clash will be televised live on Sky Sports Football.
What is the match betting for Hull City vs Middlesbrough?
Middlesbrough are 5-4 favourites with Sky Bet to beat Hull, who are a 21-10 chance. The draw is available at 23-10.
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