Hull City vs Derby County: Championship Play-Offs Preview & Prediction

Hull City have one massive foot in the Championship play-off final; they take a 3-0 lead into their semi-final second leg at home to Derby County on Tuesday night.

Goals from Abel Hernandez, Andy Robertson and an own goal from Jason Shackell on Saturday put the Tigers on the brink of returning to the Premier League at the first attempt since relegation last season.

Abel Hernandez grabbed his 22nd goal of the campaign, as he netted for the fourth successive game to put Steve Bruce’s side on the brink.

History is also with Hull as every team who has gone into a play-off second leg with a three-goal lead has gone on to reach the final – the Tigers’ home form is also being near perfect; they have suffered only one defeat in their last 24 league games on their own patch.

However, the hope for Derby is that they were the only team to win at the KC Stadium this season – picking up a 2-0 win back in November – and they have also found the net in seven of their last eight visits to east Yorkshire.

The Rams’ recent form away from home has been a mixed bag though – winning two of their previous six on the road – and the club has bad memories of their last play-off experience – a 1-0 defeat to QPR in the final two years ago at Wembley.

Jakupovic could continue between the sticks for Hull City. Photo: Mark Leech/Offside

Team News:

The main concern for the hosts is the fitness of goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who Bruce has stated has ‘less than a 50/50’ chance of being fit. Nick Powell is still a long-term absentee with a thigh injury.

There are no fresh injury concerns for Darren Wassall and his side. George Thorne is the only casualty after suffering a double leg break on the final game of the Championship season. However, Wassall could recall former Aston Villa striker Andreas Wiemann, after he was left out of the squad on Saturday.

League Position: Hull – 4th (83pts); Derby – 5th (78pts)
Previous Meeting: Derby 4-0 Hull (April 5th, 2016)
Form: Hull – WDWLWW; Derby – WWDDLL
Key Men: Hull – Abel Hernandez; Derby – Tom Ince
Shoot Says: Hull City 2-1 Derby County