Hull City vs Middlesbrough. Premier League.
MKM StadiumAttendance20,380.
Wednesday 5 April 2017 18:46, UK
Marco Silva will put his unbeaten home record on the line as Hull host Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Wednesday.
The Hull boss has not lost a league game at a home ground in over three years, including spells with Estoril, Sporting Lisbon and Olympiakos.
Hull have won six and drawn one of their matches at the KCOM Stadium under Silva, but remain in the final relegation place - four points ahead of their midweek opponents.
Middlesbrough are five points from safety in 19th place and are still looking for their first win under caretaker boss Steve Agnew, losing one and drawing one since he replaced Aitor Karanka.
Boro will be looking for their first Premier League win since December 17 when they beat Swansea, going 12 games without victory.
Evandro is back in contention for Hull after suffering a calf strain but Omar Elabdellaoui remains sidelined with a back injury, while Dieumerci Mbokani is also out with a hamstring complaint.
Tom Huddlestone remains suspended, serving the second of a three-match ban, while Ryan Mason, Will Keane and Moses Odubajo are long-term absentees.
Fabio will not feature for Middlesbrough after receiving a concussion during the goalless draw against Swansea on Sunday with George Friend also likely to be sidelined.
Gaston Ramirez will undergo a scan after suffering an ankle injury at the weekend and will be assessed on Wednesday morning ahead of the game.
Hull have lost their last two league games against Boro - they have never lost three in a row against them before.
Middlesbrough have won just one of their last nine away league games against Hull, drawing four and losing four.
The home side has won the last seven league meetings between these sides, since Middlesbrough won 4-2 at the KCOM Stadium in April 2011.
Hull came from behind to win 2-1 in their only previous home Premier League encounter with Middlesbrough in December 2008, with all three goals coming in the final 12 minutes.
Middlesbrough have drawn more Premier League games 0-0 this season than any other team in the competition (6).
Stewart Downing could make his 400th Premier League appearance in this match - 202 of those previous 399 games have been for Boro.
Hull have won four of their five Premier League home games under Marco Silva (D1), twice as many as they won under Mike Phelan this season (W2 D3 L5).
Middlesbrough (9) have kept more clean sheets than any other Premier League team currently in the bottom six.
No Premier League player has completed more dribbles in the Premier League this season than Adama Traore (121) - level with Eden Hazard.
Marco Silva has not lost a home game in three years. That is some record.
I thought Hull were fortunate on Saturday; they went 1-0 down against West Ham, never looked like scoring, and then they suddenly scored, got on the ride and went on to win the game.
This is a massive, massive game. Boro needed more than a draw at Swansea, especially with Rudy Gestede's chance at the end, he's just got to score with that chance. I'm going to go with another draw.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (9/2 with Sky Bet)
Hull are the 21/20 favourites with Sky Bet to win at home to Middlesbrough on Wednesday night in a vital match in the battle to stay in the Premier League. Second-bottom Boro are out at 3/1 to get the three points and the draw is on offer at 21/10.
Hull have won 2-1 in both of their last two home games and Sky Bet's Correct Score Group Betting offers 7/4 for the Tigers to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1. Marco Silva's side are also available at 5/2 to win by exactly one goal.
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