Is Hull City’s slump continuing?
A surprise team – Hull City are currently experiencing a rollercoaster ride of emotions and have come back down to earth after a flight of fancy. After four defeats in a row, new club boss Acun Ilicali’s side slipped to 20th place. If Hull’s form crisis continues, they could be facing a relegation spot as early as this weekend.
After all, only one point separates the “Tigers” from the red zone. On Friday night, Hull City will kick off the matchday in the Championship and will face Luton. Friday’s opponents, like Hull, have had a mixed start to the season and are currently difficult to categorise. However, the potential for promotion is certainly there.
Luton have lost just one of their last six competitive games. Most recently, the “Hatters” celebrated a 2-0 victory against Blackburn Rovers, their third win of the season. Luton Town are now aiming for another three points against Hull.
Since September 2019, Luton Town have won each of their last three matches against Hull City. The last time Luton hosted Hull at the MKM Stadium, it was in the second leg of the 2021/22 season, a 3-1 win for the ‘Hatters.
Hull – Statistics & current form
Hull City started the season with big promotion ambitions. Following the takeover by Turkish media mogul Acun Ilicali, there was a major squad shake-up during the summer break. Numerous players were sent off after last season’s mixed results. In return, 14 new players joined the team.
With Shota Arveladze, the interim solution from last season remained in place as head coach this season. However, after the recent slump in form, the 49-year-old Georgian is on thin ice and currently has to fear for his coaching position. Hull City have lost their last four matches in the league and have been utterly disappointing.
The attacking play in particular has been lacking. The Tigers have failed to score in their last three league games. While the 0:2 against Sheffield is still bearable, results against Stoke and Swansea were not to be glossed over. In both matches, the Tigers scored three times each
Will the goal drought continue against Luton?
Tendentially, a defeat against Luton in the current condition cannot be ruled out either. Against a forecast in favour of the Tigers speaks above all the recent home record against Friday’s opponents from Luton Town. Since October 2004, Hull City have not won a single match against the Hatters at the MKM Stadium.
However, bettors looking to back the hosts in the Hull vs Luton match can pick up odds of 2.90 if they are successful. Hull have already won three of their five home games this season. Among others, head coach Arveladze’s team surprisingly won against Norwich City.
For Friday’s match against Luton, the Georgian will be missing two players, Chadwick and Sayyadmanesh, through injury. There are no other absentees in the Tigers’ ranks at present.
Predicted Hull line-up:
Baxter; Coyle, Jones, Greaves, Elder; Woods, Slater; Vale, Tufan, Pelkas; Estupinan
Last games played by Hull:
Championship
17/09/2022 – Swansea 3 – 0 Hull
14/09/2022 – Hull 0 – 3 Stoke
04/09/2022 – Hull 0 – 2 Sheffield United
31/08/2022 – Queens Park Rangers 3 – 1 Hull
27/08/2022 – Hull 3 – 2 Coventry
Luton – Statistics & current form
Luton Town have found their way back to winning ways this season after starting problems and have already climbed up to eleventh place. The Hatters, as the tradition-steeped Bedfordshire club is also known, have conceded just one defeat in their last six Championship matches.
Last week, head coach Nathan Jones’ side beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at home. It was the Hatters’ third win of the season. For the first time since April 2022, Luton are now targeting two consecutive wins in the English second division. The recent record against Hull is encouraging.
Luton have won their last three league meetings against their Friday opponents. Last season, Luton won 1-0 in the first leg. In the second leg, on the other hand, the Hatters won 3-1 away from home.
Will Luton clinch a place in the promotion play-offs?
With another win against Hull, the “Hatters” have the chance to claim one of the four starting places for the promotion play-offs for the time being. The Friday match is therefore all the more important for Luton Town. The eleventh-placed team in the table recently celebrated two victories in a row away from home. After a 2-0 win against Swansea, Luton celebrated a 2-1 victory against Cardiff.
Carlton Morris has played a major part in the success so far. The summer signing from Barnsley FC has already scored six goals this season, making him one of the most prolific scorers in the Championship. Last week Morris scored in the win against Blackburn. It is therefore not at all far-fetched to bet on a Morris goal this time as well.
Due to injury, only James Shea will miss Friday’s game in the Hatters’ ranks. In his absence, Horvath will remain in goal for Luton. Big changes compared to the last starting eleven are not to be expected anyway.
Predicted Luton line-up:
Horvath; Burke, Lockyer, Potts; Bree, Lansbury, Clark, Doughty; Campbell; Woodrow, Morris
Last matches played by Luton:
Championship
17/09/2022 – Luton 2 – 0 Blackburn
15/09/2022 – Luton 2 – 2 Coventry
03/09/2022 – Luton 1 – 2 Wigan
31/08/2022 – Cardiff 1 – 2 Luton
27/08/2022 – Luton 1 – 1 Sheffield United
Hull – Luton Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
In the last 39 meetings between the two clubs, Luton lead the head-to-head comparison against Hull with a record of 18-8-13. Two of those 18 wins came last season, when Luton beat Hull in the first and second legs of the 2021/22 Championship. That extended the winning streak against the Tigers to three matches.
The last league encounter between the two clubs was a 3-1 win for Luton. This was the first time since March 2007 that a bet on “BTS: Yes” paid off on Hull vs Luton Town. Prior to that, there were three matches in a row where bets on “Both score” did not pay off.
Hull – Luton betting tips
Hull are in free fall after four league defeats in a row and have to fear for their relegation. If they fail to pick up a point in Friday’s game against Luton Town, the worst-case scenario would be a relegation spot as early as this weekend. The Hatters have recently suffered three defeats in a row.
Accordingly, it cannot be ruled out that Hull will also lose the upcoming match against Luton – especially as the visitors have only conceded one defeat in the last six league games anyway. After a strong performance, Luton have already successfully won 2-0 against Blackburn Rovers, a promotion rival in the league.
Just like the bookmakers, we therefore also see Luton Town as favourites in the matchday opener in the Championship. We think it is obvious to bet on the visitors in Hull vs Luton.
