Hull City head to the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night to face Oxford United in their latest Championship outing.
Hull City come into this weekend’s clash with Oxford United off the back of a 1-1 at home to Portsmouth over the weekend. They took the lead early in the first-half through attacker Joao Pedro before Jacob Murphy equalised for the visitors at the MKM Stadium just after the interval.
The Tigers have won only three of their first 13 games so far this season and find themselves down in 15th place in the table. They are only three points above the drop zone.
The East Yorkshire outfit turned to Tim Walter over the summer following Liam Rosenior’s shock sacking. However, the German has been struggling for results recently.
As for Oxford United, they have adapted pretty well to life in the second tier. They won the League One play-off final last term after beating Bolton Wanderers at Wembley and went up along with Portsmouth and Derby County.
Des Buckingham’s side were beaten 2-1 at home by Swansea City last time out and will want to bounce back. Dane Scarlett got on the scoresheet for them against the Swans but it wasn’t enough.
Here, a handful of our writers make their predictions for the game…
Harry Mail
“Oxford United’s form has slumped a bit recently and this game is an ideal opportunity for them to get back to winning ways.
“They have been strong at the Kassam Stadium in general so far this season and will want to bounce back from their loss to Swansea City.
“The pressure is on for Walter at Hull City already. His style of play hasn’t been working and his team were booed by sections of their fanbase over the weekend.
“Both teams could do with winning this one but I can see it being a draw.”
Prediction: Oxford United 1-1 Hull City
James Ray
“Oxford United are starting to slip towards the area many expected them to find themselves in the Championship this season. They started well, but their form has dropped away.
“This is a big opportunity for Hull City and looking at their squad, they need to win these sort of games.
“They haven’t been though. The start to life under Walter has been poor and while the squad is not as strong as last year’s, it’s capable of much more more than three wins from the first 13 games of the campaign.
“Hull sides of the past would be backed to take all three points, but I just can’t see it.”