MY ACCOUNT
Under-pressure Hull manager Shota Arveladze retained his position during the international break but may be entering the last chance saloon when his side take on Luton at MKM Stadium.
Hull had a busy transfer window and higher expectations were met early on with seven points collected from their first three games.
However, a poor run has dragged them down to 20th and left Arveladze in a vulnerable position.
Luton are two points better off and seem to be going the right way after recovering from a slow start to the season.
The Hatters rose to 11th after an impressive 2-0 victory at home to Blackburn last time out.
Hull vs Luton (Friday, 8pm)
Team news
Arveladze’s squad has been beset by injury problems but the international break afforded sufficient time for summer signing Dogukan Sinik to return to full training after a calf issue.
Sinik could feature on the bench but there are some key absentees with Brandon Fleming (foot), Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (back) and Benjamin Tetteh (tendon) out of contention.
Luton have benefited from the break with former long-term absentees Alfie Doughty and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu gaining some minutes in an outing for the club’s under-23’s.
Doughty can expect to be involved after being named on the bench for the 2-0 success at home to Blackburn but Ruddock Mpanzu may have to bide his time and goalkeeper James Shea (knee) is unavailable.
The stats
Hull are the only Championship side to have lost their last four league games and approach the weekend one point above the drop zone.
The Tigers have the worst defensive record in the league, shipping 21 goals in 10 matches.
Luton were defeated in the Championship play-off semi-finals last season and appeared to be suffering from a hangover after taking just two points from their first four matches.
However, they have improved since mid-August, taking 11 points from their last six fixtures.
Prediction
Luton took a while to shake off the disappointment of last season’s play-off campaign, but they have looked a strong side in recent weeks and will be confident of getting the better of Hull.
Nathan Jones has done fantastic work across two spells in the dugout and has built a strong team which looks equipped to push for a top-10 finish.
Jones did some smart business in the summer and his attack looks much-improved after the signings of forwards Carlton Morris and Cauley Woodrow from Barnsley.
The duo are used to playing together and Morris has been outstanding, scoring six goals in 10 league appearances.
Morris and Woodrow linked up intelligently in the 2-0 victory at home to Blackburn and could cause plenty of problems for the division’s leakiest defence.
Hull have not kept a clean sheet in eight league matches and have lost five of their last six fixtures by at least two goals.
