Match Preview: Hull v Pompey

All you need to know about League One test

18 December 2020

It is arguably the biggest game of the season so far in League One – and one that is certainly deserving of the Sky Sports cameras being present.

The KCOM Stadium hosts a clash between Hull and Pompey this evening (5.30pm kick-off), as the sides sitting first and second respectively in the table lock horns.

Victory for Kenny Jackett’s side would see them rise above their opponents to the summit, although it would not quite guarantee a Christmas number one.

That is because sixth-placed Doncaster are only a couple of points behind the Blues and have a game in hand to be played next Tuesday.

Whether first or second, though, a win for Pompey would certainly ensure a much-needed raising of festive spirits back on the south coast.

Grant McCann’s Tigers finished bottom of the Championship last season, with defeat at Cardiff on the final day condemning them to the drop.

They had been sitting just outside the play-off positions following a win on New Year’s Day, but the final 20 fixtures brought a solitary win.

That run ensured Hull kept plummeting down the standings, with the low point an 8-0 hammering suffered at the hands of Wigan.

But they stopped the rot at the beginning of the current campaign and were enjoying some fine form before the past two matches brought consecutive defeats to Shrewsbury and Blackpool.

Chris Maguire and Joel Ward were on target as Pompey won 2-0 at Fratton Park when the sides last met for a Championship fixture at Fratton Park in 2011.

TEAM NEWS
Lee Brown is the only absentee for Pompey, with the full-back continuing to be sidelined by a hamstring injury.

Hull will be without Alfie Jones (hamstring), Callum Jones (hamstring) and Martin Samuelson (calf), while George Honeyman (hamstring) is a doubt.

Highly-rated teenage forward Keane Lewis-Potter is not expected to feature, as his contract dispute with the Tigers rumbles on.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of Kenny Jackett and Cam Pring ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 21 wins
Hull: 13 wins
20 draws

At Hull
Pompey: 8 wins
Hull: 9 wins
9 draws

OFFICIALS
Referee: Michael Salisbury
Assistants: Shaun Hudson and Philip Dermott
Fourth Official: Tom Nield

MATCH COVERAGE
Supporters in the UK can watch the contest live on Sky Sports Football. If you are based overseas then please check local listings to see if the game is being shown in your region.

The game cannot be viewed on iFollow, but subscribers can listen to live commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from 5pm.

Click here for more information about using iFollow on a matchday and click here for information on downloading the app, so you can access content on your mobile device.

We will have updates throughout the game on Twitter and the match centre. You can also see behind-the-scenes content on our Instagram story.

There will be post-match reaction on the website and our official YouTube channel, with highlights to follow on Saturday.

Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent.

BETTING
Hull are the 31/20 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while Pompey can be backed at 9/5.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of odds for this evening’s game. Please gamble responsibly.

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
Games kick-off at 3pm unless stated

Saturday
Rochdale v Gillingham (1pm)
Accrington v Blackpool
AFC Wimbledon v Crewe
Burton v Doncaster
Fleetwood v Wigan
Northampton v Lincoln
Peterborough v Ipswich
Plymouth v MK Dons
Swindon v Charlton

MAGIC MOMENT

Match Previews

Match Reports

Hull 0 Pompey 2

Blues climb to the top of the League One table

18 December 2020

Pompey take the lead at Hull — Photo: Daniel Chesterton

Pompey climbed to the top of the League One table with a hard-fought – and deserved – victory over previous leaders Hull.

The goals came early in each half, but the visitors were giving a helping hand on each occasion at the KCOM Stadium.

Jacob Greaves appeared to send the first into the net under pressure from Sean Raggett, while Josh Magennis then did the honours after the break.

Kenny Jackett made one change from the side that drew with Fleetwood on home soil earlier in the week.

Jack Whatmough was feeling ill on the morning of the match, so his place in the centre of defence was taken by Rasmus Nicolaisen.

The visitors made a bright start and Marcus Harness’ effort was deflected behind after the winger had swapped passes with John Marquis.

And the deadlock was then broken from the resulting corner, although Hull were upset that the goal was allowed to stand.

Raggett tried to attack the delivery Cam Pring, but GREAVES stooped to try to clear and ended up heading the ball into his own net.

He complained of a boot to the head from the Pompey centre-back, although referee Michael Salisbury disagreed.

The Tigers tried to hit back immediately and when Josh Emmanuel cut the ball back into the box, Mallik Wilks slotted wastefully wide.

It was Pompey looking the more dangerous side, though, and Ryan Williams – who featured in the Blues’ last visit to the KCOM Stadium in 2011 – saw a shot diverted past the post.

Josh Magennis then did well to head clear another Pring corner, as Nicolaisen came charging in to try to meet it himself.

But the hosts grew into the contest and began to threaten themselves, with a James Scott cross drifting towards the net and having to be tipped over by Craig MacGillivray.

And Pompey also had to deal with a series of corners towards the end of the half, but defended resolutely to go in ahead at the break.

Half Time: Hull 0 Pompey 1

The visitors had to survive a scramble in their box straight after the restart, with Hull unable to take advantage of several mis-kicks.

It was a similar story just a few seconds later, although this time Pring was well-placed to hack the ball clear.

But Pompey shook off that shaky opening to the second period and soon managed to double their advantage.

Once again, however, it appeared to be another Tigers player who gained the unwanted credit for the ball crossing the line.

A Ronan Curtis free-kick was nodded on by Nicolaisen towards Marquis, but MAGENNIS got there first and sent the ball past Matt Ingram and into his own net.

MacGillivray stopped an instant reply from the hosts, beating away a fiercely-struck fizzer from Regan Slater.

Pompey were looking pretty comfortable, although Mallik Wilks could not connect with a teasing Keane Lewis-Potter delivery at the back post.

But the Tigers finally roared into life in the closing stages, with a couple of dangerous crosses causing problems.

Greg Docherty then lifted a pass into the box and it looked like Magennis had reduced the deficit, only for his header to come back off the bar, with Nicolaisen doing the mopping up.

There were to be no more scares, however, as the Blues saw out the final few minutes to leapfrog their opponents at the summit.

Hull (4-2-3-1): Ingram; Emmanuel, Burke, Greaves, Elder; Smallwood (c), Docherty; Wilks, Slater (Eaves 62), Scott (Lewis-Potter 46); Magennis
Subs not used: Long, Coyle, McLoughlin, Batty, Adelakun

Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Johnson, Raggett, Nicolaisen, Pring; Naylor (c), Cannon; Harness (Jacobs 88), Williams (Close 87), Curtis; Marquis
Goals: Greaves 6 (og), Magennis 55 (og)
Subs not used: Bass, Mnoga, Morris, Hiwula, Harrison

Referee: Michael Salisbury