When these two sides met at the Pirelli Stadium back in November, Covid had ravaged Burton Albion’s squad and then manager Jake Buxton was forced to field a side propped up by youth players and fringe first teamers. The end result was a comfortable if not unspectacular 2-0 win for City, with Wilks and Adelakun on the score sheet. Fast forward to Saturday and you’d still fancy City to come out on top without breaking much of a sweat. However, expectation doesn’t seem to match reality as often as we’d like and while Burton haven’t won since the game after that City win (a 4-2 win against Charlton), they still require a professional performance to keep our momentum going. New/old manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has returned to try and guide the Brewers to safety, but it’s looking like an increasingly mammoth task. A raft of signings have come in to try and balance out what was a pretty thin squad, but they aren’t signings that jump off the page. Former Tiger Stephen Quinn has departed for Mansfield, while Charles Vernam has moved to Bradford City. Nine new signings came in to replace those gone and to replenish the ranks, so it’s fair to say that the team will take time to gel, a commodity that the Brewers don’t really have.
JFH has utilised a 4-5-1 formation against stronger teams in an attempt to catch teams out on the break, so expect to see striker Kane Hemmings staying forward at all times. Lucas Akins has been moved to the wing and is a direct, forward thinking player, so the wing play for City is going to have to be on point.
Player to watch: Ryan Broom – If he gets the nod, the influential attacking midfielder is capable of threading balls through the eye of a needle. Jacob Greaves will know him from his time at Cheltenham, where he scored eight goals in a fine season.

Hull City Team News

Gavin Whyte and Alfie Jones are both out for the next few weeks in what is a pretty big blow to McCann’s midfield options. Tom Eaves continues his rehabilitation process while Mallik Wilks will be assessed ahead of training on Friday. The Tigers have strength in depth, so Max Clark could be given a first start under Grant McCann since resigning for the club on deadline day, which would allow Callum Elder a bit of respite from the fixture list. Lincoln next Tuesday may see more changes brought about this weekend and the likes of Thomas Mayer, James Scott (both of whom have a huge point to prove) and Regan Slater will be asking for a chance. The big question mark will be around George Honeyman; he missed the defeat to Lincoln, but he was scheduled to anyway. With his injury not being as worrisome as first feared, expect him to feature if he can.
Burton Albion Team News
No injury concerns for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as Burton look to get a first win in three months. Ryan Broom should come in to replace the departed Charles Vernam and Kane Hemmings will continue up front.

Predicted Starting XI: Long, Emmanuel, Greaves, Burke, Elder, Smallwood, Crowley Docherty, KLP, Wilks, Honeyman.

Predicted score: Hull City 3 – 0 Burton Albion