Hull City

Hull City's English defender Charlie Hughes, 22, has caught the eye of Crystal Palace as a possible replacement for Marc Guehi after the England centre-back departed for Manchester City in January. (Football Insider), external

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Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has said he is "happy" to have earned all three points in a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Swansea on Saturday.

The Swans fought back in the second half to pull their 2-0 deficit to 2-1 but the Tigers held strong to deny a leveller.

"It was a very difficult game for us, especially the third game in seven days," Jakirovic told BBC Sport.

"We are very happy because I think that was a battle from the first minute and we used our chances. Swansea especially first half didn't use theirs, through [Zan] Vipotnik.

"Second half we dropped down, we didn't control anything. They deserved to score but we didn't lose our head after this goal.

"In the end we are very happy with these three points."

Image source, EFL

A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."

Hull City will seek a third successive league win when they welcome Swansea City to the MKM Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Victories over Southampton and fellow top six side Preston North End have left the Tigers safely within the play-off places, five points above seventh placed Watford but trailing second placed Middlesbrough by the same figure.

The Swans are also undefeated across their past two (W1 D1) and held their hosts to a 2-2 draw when the two sides met on the Welsh side of the border back in September.

• Hull City have won just one of their last seven league games against Swansea City (D3 L3), triumphing 2-1 in December 2024.

• Swansea City have lost nine of their last 14 away league games against Hull City (W2 D3), a run which has seen the Swans net multiple goals in just two of those matches.

• Hull City have won six of their last eight league games (D1 L1). Indeed, no Championship side has won more points than the Tigers since the start of this run in December (19).

• Swansea have lost six of their last seven away league games (W1). Since November 5th, no side has lost more Championship matches on the road than the Swans.

• Hull's Oliver McBurnie – who has scored in his last two league games against Swansea – has scored 10 goals in an English league season for the third time in his career, after 2018-19 (22) and 2022-23 (13).

Image source, Shutterstock

All English Football League games across a four-day period in February will begin one minute late to raise awareness for the Every Minute Matters campaign.

The initiative will be in place for 36 matches across the Championship, League One and League Two between 5 and 9 February.

EFL sponsor Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have been working together since May 2024 to highlight the importance of speed when it comes to performing live-saving CPR.

Later kick-off times will serve as "a stark reminder that every minute matters", the EFL said.

Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer collapsed while playing for Luton Town eight minutes into the Championship play-off final against Coventry in May 2023.

Lockyer then suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch seven months later during a Premier League game at Bournemouth.

"What happened to me can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," said Lockyer, who is now a BHF ambassador.

"Every year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and most of them never make it home.

"I'm here today because of the transformative power of CPR as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life.

"This February, we want everyone to get behind this life-saving initiative, learn the skills and be ready to step in because your actions could give someone else the chance I was given."

Throughout February, the Every Minute Matters campaign will call on fans to learn CPR using the BHF's online RevivR, external tool.

"Each minute without CPR reduces a person's chance of survival, so we're urging fans to learn the skills now, before you ever need them," said Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF.

EFL chief executive officer Trevor Birch added: "The one minute kick-off adjustment is a simple, powerful reminder that swift CPR can be the difference between life and death."

Crystal Palace scouts have been watching Hull Citycaptain Charlie Hughes as they seek a long-term replacement for Marc Guehi. (Football Insider), external

Read all the latest EFL transfer rumours in Wednesday's gossip column here.

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic praised his side's "perfect" performance in their 3-0 win at Preston.

The win saw the Tigers remain three points behind second-placed Ipswich.

"We found balance in these two games. We know exactly what we are doing on the pitch out of possession and in possession," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We controlled the game and didn't allow anything to Preston. We scored three very nice goals and could have scored more. Everything is perfect.

"When the club offered me Yu (Hirakawa) I said immediately to get him because we are lacking in this position with injuries. He gives us more options because he can play two or three positions and he knows the league.

"Every game is very important in this league. The Southampton win gave us confidence, it was great for us."

Image source, BBC Sport

Hull City midfielder Kasey Palmer is in talks with League One Luton Town over a loan move until the end of the season. The Jamaican international, 29, has made nine league appearances for the Tigers this season. (Hull Live), external

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Both hosts Preston North End and visitors Hull City will be looking to remain inside the top six when they meet at Deepdale on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).

As it stands, the Tigers only need a draw to retain their fifth placed position, while a victory could see them jump up a place should Millwall be unable to claim a point from league leaders Coventry City.

But it's North End who will be feeling the heat, with multiple teams chasing their sixth place and coming off a disappointing late 1-0 loss to Derby County.

• There has been just one goal in Preston's last three home league games against Hull City, with two finishing 0-0 (August 2022, March 2024) and the Lilywhites winning this exact fixture 1-0 last term.

• Hull have only lost one of their last seven league meetings with Preston (W2 D4), going down 1-0 in December 2024.

• Preston have only lost one of their last 30 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) home league games (W13 D16), a 0-1 defeat to Birmingham in October this season.

• Hull have lost each of their last six away league games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), scoring just one goal in this run. The Tigers had won six in a row prior to this.

• Preston's Paul Heckingbottom has only lost one of his four previous home games as a Championship manager against Hull (W2 D1), going down 0-1 with Barnsley in October 2017.

Stoke City's move for Hull City full-back Cody Drameh, 24, could fall through due to his fitness. (The72), external

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Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic said watching Kyle Joseph finish for Hull's opening goal was like watching Lionel Messi in action.

But the Tigers boss may now have to do without the midfielder this week after he limped off at St Mary's with an ankle injury.

Joseph's classy strike, likened jokingly to Messi by his boss, helped set the Tigers on their way to a 2-1 win over Southampton at St Mary's but the 24-year-old could be a doubt for Tuesday's trip to Preston.

"It is a kick [on his ankle] so we will see. He wanted to continue in the second half but then after 10 minutes he wanted substitution," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

On his goal, Jakirovic added: "We knew they like to play with the goalkeeper so we had extended pressing, double pressing and also press on the sides so they cannot find an exit. Oli McBurnie took the ball and tried to dribble and it deflected to Kyle Joseph and he finished like Messi. It was a perfect goal."

Jakirovic's side are up to fifth with a fifth win in their last seven games.

"We are very happy because of this three points because it was a difficult and demanding game. We took our chances and scored very nice two goals. Second half we controlled mostly.

"In the end we took three points and we are very satisfied."

Boss Sergej Jakirovic admits Hull City are down to the bare bones for Saturday's trip to Southampton (15:00 GMT).

The Tigers could climb into the Championship's top four with a fourth win in five away games but a swathe of injuries has left the Bosnian with just 12 senior players to call on.

Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside: "It is the first time since I have coached I have so many injuries. The medical staff are giving everything to get the players back on the pitch. It's a contact sport. It's a mix of injuries.

"I think we have 11 players right now off the pitch, we have 12 senior players."

Jakirovic admitted he was "very concerned" the injury crisis could derail his side's promising season, adding: "This is not even close to the same team that beat Southampton at home (in September). You cannot replace every player, it's not possible. We have a lack of quality in some positions.

"We showed we are fighting, no matter who is on the pitch and it's a chance for someone who didn't play a lot until now to grab their chance and show their quality.

"We have a lot of problems, this is not an alibi, this is real. I must fix something. I must find the solution. I will put out the best XI I have in the moment."

Jakirovic said he was "not so optimistic" that midfielder Darko Gyabi will only be sidelined for eight to 12 weeks after surgery on a groin injury sustained against Blackburn on Sunday, while forward Enes Destan is stepping up his recovery from a knee injury but will not play before February.

Full-back Cody Drameh could be out until March with a thigh injury while midfielder Eliot Matazo has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury and could miss another six weeks.

On the plus side, Matt Crooks is 50-50 to face Southampton after pulling out of the warm-up against Blackburn following a dead leg, while Semi Ajayi is expected back next week after Afcon duty with Nigeria and Joe Gelhardt might be back training with the team by then too.

Jakirovic said his nomination for manager of the month after a stellar December "gives you confidence you are doing a good job".

He also welcomed the home tie with Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round, adding: "It's a very difficult draw. Chelsea is a great club but it's a good game for us, and at home. It's very interesting because Liam (Rosenior) was here and did a very good job here. I look forward to meeting him."

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna has hailed his team's "quality and resilience" after being named Championship manager of the month for December.

Town won four of their seven games last month, including a 2-0 victory away to leaders Coventry City, and were beaten only once.

"This award is credit to everyone involved with the team and also the supporters, because it was a really challenging December with lots of games and lots of travel," McKenna told the club website., external

"Although not every game went our way, we really stuck at it and showed lots of quality and resilience. That took a lot of effort from everyone and it's especially pleasing for us to win this award in a month which asked so much of us.

"We know it will take a big, big effort over the next few months and it's now about everyone continuing to work hard, sticking together and seeing where we are at the end of the season."

McKenna was chosen by the judging panel ahead of fellow nominees Watford's Javi Gracia, Sergej Jakirovic of Hull City and Swansea head coach Vitor Matos.

It is McKenna's sixth Manager of the Month award, and he was also named EFL Championship manager of the season in 2024.

Ipswich are third in the table, just two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough but with a game in hand, and are at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.