STAR PREVIEW Fri: Hull City v Luton Town

Sensationally, Hull City manager Shota Arveladze has been sacked just hours before the Tigers’ Championship clash with Luton Town after a poor run of form. Andy Dawson has taken the reins on an interim basis and will be hoping to help turn around their fortunes.

You could have created an old-school football bloopers video solely from Hull’s last Championship outing; a dire 3-0 defeat away at Swansea City courtesy of some frankly shambolic defending.

After a reasonably solid start to their campaign, Hull’s form has taken a concerning nose-dive in recent weeks and seen them slide to 20th in the Championship table – just one point above the dreaded drop-zone – with comfortably the worst defensive record in the division.

Their one shining light has been summer signing Oscar Estupinan who, rather remkarbly, has scored all but four of Hull’s total goal tally so far this season. The lively forward – who arrived from Vitoria de Guimaraes in the summer – is certainly one that Luton will have to keep a close eye on.

Exciting Chelsea loanee Xavi Simons could well be unleashed from the start for the first time in midfield whilst defender Tobias Figueiredo could find himself on the chopping block after his poor performance against Swansea.

Hull City v Luton Town
Championship
20:00 Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football / Sky Sports Ultra HDR

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
MAR 2019 CHAMPIONSHIP Hull 1-3 Luton
OCT 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP Luton 1-0 Hull
JUL 2020 CHAMPIONSHIP Hull 0-1 Luton
SEP 2019  CHAMPIONSHIP Luton 0-3 Hull
MAR 2007 CHAMPIONSHIP Luton 1-2 Hull
OCT 2006 CHAMPIONSHIP Hull 0-0 Luton
FEB 2006 CHAMPIONSHIP Luton 2-3 Hull
SEP 2005 CHAMPIONSHIP Hull 0-1 Luton
FEB 2005 LEAGUE ONE Luton 1-0 Hull

Luton have shown encouraging signs of improvement in recent weeks after a tough start to the campaign which saw them take just five points from their first five games.

The Hatters now find themselves in a much healthier position in 11th in the Championship table and secured an excellent home victory in their last league match before the international break.

Blackburn Rovers have made a promising start to the season, but their progress was halted at Kenilworth Road a fortnight ago thanks to second-half strikes from Carlton Morris and Reece Burke for Nathan Jones’ side.

Luton have close to clean bill of health, although might be without left wing-back Amari’i Bell who may not be deemed ready after playing on Tuesday for Jamaica against Argentina.

With Morris in excellent form at the top of the pitch for Luton and managerless Hull conceding goals for fun, this looks like it could be a high-scoring affair. I am backing a Luton victory and over 2.5 goals.

JOE CITRONE

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