Hull City vs Aston Villa. Sky Bet Championship.
MKM StadiumAttendance16,133.
Watch live on Sky Sports Football from 5.15pm on Saturday
Saturday 31 March 2018 16:29, UK
Hull head coach Nigel Adkins has confirmed he will stick with Michael Dawson for the home game against Aston Villa, live on Sky Sports Football from 5.15pm on Saturday.
The City captain received criticism for his performance in the 3-0 defeat at Birmingham before the international break but Adkins has vowed to keep the defender in his starting line-up on Saturday.
Hull had 10 players away with their countries and Adkins will assess them all before finalising his plans. Moses Odubajo, Stephen Kingsley and Evandro are still not fit while James Weir remains a long-term absentee.
Villa have players returning from injury as they look to get their promotion challenge back on track. Alan Hutton (hamstring), Neil Taylor (groin) and Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring) missed the defeat at Bolton but all three have been involved in training this week.
Glenn Whelan has been struggling with a calf injury and Villa boss Steve Bruce, who returns to his old club, will have a better idea about the midfielder's fitness on Friday. Winger Andre Green (hamstring) is nearing a return while Jonathan Kodjia is back in training after his lengthy absence. Bruce will err on the side of caution with the striker but there is a good chance he will be involved again soon.
Hull have won one of their last 13 matches against Aston Villa in all competitions (D2 L10), a 2-0 win in February 2015 when they were managed by current Villa boss Steve Bruce.
Villa haven't lost back to back away league trips to Hull since March 1970.
Abel Hernández has scored six goals in just four league appearances at the KCOM Stadium this season.
Aston Villa haven't lost three consecutive Championship matches since a run of five ending in February 2017.
The Tigers have only lost one of their last 10 home matches in all competitions (W4 D5).
Robert Snodgrass has registered 13 league assists this season, the most by an Aston Villa player in a season since 2007/08, when Ashley Young assisted 14 in the Premier League.
Hull looked to be climbing away from danger until that thumping at Birmingham before the international break, and it doesn't take long to get dragged back into trouble in this division.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, suffered two desperate defeats in a row and it's starting to look like automatic promotion may be beyond them. Score draw for me.
David Prutton predicts: 2-2 with Lewis Grabban to score first (55/1 with Sky Bet)
