Hull City welcome Middlesbrough to the MKM Stadium in Championship action on Tuesday evening.
The two sides are separated by just three points, with Hull 18th on 20 points, and Boro three places lower in 21st on 17 points at this stage.
Match preview
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Hull have been without a manager since the end of September, with the club's hierarchy deciding to part with Shota Arveladze just hours before their game against Luton Town.
Interim boss Andy Dawson has recorded three wins and four defeats while the club has been searching for a new manager, recording back-to-back away wins earlier this month, beating Blackpool 3-1 and Rotherham United 4-2.
This came as a massive improvement on the front foot, with the Tigers previously failing to score in six of their last seven games, a run that had left them just one point above opponents Middlesbrough, who occupied 21st, the last spot in the relegation zone.
There is a little more breathing room for Hull now, currently three points above the drop, but they fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers last time out, in a return to their old ways.
Dawson's side failed to register a shot on target in the match, compared to their opponents' six, and the defeat continued a run of conceding at home in every Championship home game so far this season.
The defence has been a major issue for Hull, conceding 32 goals in the Championship already, five more than any other side, although they have a great opportunity to rectify this issue against fellow-strugglers Middlesbrough.
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Indeed, Boro have failed to build on a seventh-placed finish last season, outside the relegation zone on goal difference, although Coventry City, who are 22nd, have two games in hand on the Teessiders.
Boro have also parted with their manager as a result of the poor start, with Chris Wilder getting the sack after a 1-0 defeat away at Coventry at the end of October, a result that left them 22nd.
Leo Percovich was placed in charge of the first team after Wilder's dismissal, and he was able to win two of his five games in charge, beating Birmingham City 1-0 in his opening match and dispatching of Wigan Athletic 4-1 at the DW Stadium later on in October.
The plan was always to bring a new permanent manager in though, and Michael Carrick was appointed on October 25th, overseeing his first game at the weekend, an away clash against Preston North End.
In his first match in the dugout, Carrick could not have wished for a better start, with Chuba Akpom putting his side into the lead after just eight minutes, but Emil Riis Jakobsen fired home a first-half equaliser, and Jordan Storey scored a stoppage-time winner in the second half to ensure that Boro were once again defeated.
Team News
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Callum Elder, Benjamin Tetteh and Allahyar Sayyadmanesh are all suffering with hamstring injuries, and they are not set to return for Hull until later in November.
Harvey Vale will also be absent with a groin injury, but he is making strides towards recovery and should be available for selection soon.
Oscar Estupinan has been a bright spark for the Tigers this season, netting eight league goals, the joint-second highest amount in the league, but he does not seem to be in favour with the interim boss, with Ryan Longman being preferred in recent matches.
Chuba Akpom continued his decent start to the season with his goal at Preston on Saturday, and the striker who has scored five goals in 10 games is most likely to start up front, next to Muniz Carvalho.
Matt Crooks and Duncan Watmore did not feature in Carrick's first squad, with the manager citing minor issues as the reason for their absence, but they should be available on Tuesday night.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Baxter; Christie, Figueiredo, Jones, Greaves; Seri, Woods, Docherty, Pelkas, Slater; Longman
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:
Steffen; Smith, Fry, Lenihan, Giles; Jones, Howson, Crooks, McGree; Akpom, Muniz
We say: Hull City 1-1 Middlesbrough
Neither side is in particularly good form at the moment, and for that reason we think this one will finish up as a draw. With Hull so far being unable to keep a clean sheet at home, and Middlesbrough also being frail defensively, both sides are likely to score.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Dominic Lund
