Hull City Ready for Defining Week in Promotion Chase

Hull City Ready for Defining Week in Promotion Chase

March 5, 2026

Hull City face a pivotal period in their 2025/26 Championship campaign as they prepare for three consecutive matches against fellow promotion contenders, starting with Saturday's home clash against Millwall at the MKM Stadium.

Manager Sergej Jakirović described the run as "nice" in a recent press conference, embracing the challenge of facing direct rivals Millwall (currently fourth), Wrexham (pushing hard in the top six), and West Bromwich Albion over the next two weeks. The Tigers sit fifth in the table on 60 points from 35 games after a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Ipswich Town on Tuesday night, where Anis Hadj-Moussa's second-half strike proved decisive despite Hull's spirited performance.

Jakirović praised his side's approach in Suffolk, insisting they "must do better" in converting chances but maintained the tactical plan was sound against one of the division's strongest home outfits. The loss halted a positive run that included a vital 1-0 win at Portsmouth last weekend, keeping Hull firmly in the automatic promotion conversation with games in hand on several above them.

Oli McBurnie continues to lead the line effectively, supported by attacking threats like Jason Joseph and Louie Gelhardt, while the defence—bolstered by the return of Semi Ajayi from injury—has shown resilience. Midfielder Regan Slater remains a key figure in the engine room, with Jakirović keen to tie him down to a new deal amid interest from elsewhere.

Off the field, the club continues to operate under certain financial constraints following a previous transfer embargo, limiting permanent additions this season to free agents and loans. Assistant boss Dean Holden recently turned down a managerial opportunity in Turkey to stay committed to the project at Hull, underlining the belief within the camp that something special is building.

Saturday's lunchtime kick-off against Millwall offers a chance to close the gap on the top four and send a statement to the rest of the division. Jakirović has urged his players to "enjoy" their position rather than feel pressure, highlighting the squad's confidence after strong displays against top opposition earlier in the campaign.

With the business end of the season approaching, every point will count in what remains an incredibly tight race for Premier League return. Hull's home form at the MKM Stadium will be crucial over the coming weeks, and a positive result against Millwall could ignite belief that automatic promotion—or at worst a strong play-off spot—is well within reach.

Fans will be hoping the Tigers can harness the momentum from recent weeks and deliver in this defining sequence of fixtures that could shape their season's ultimate destination.

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Home of Hull City AFC

Opened 2002

Capacity 25,400

History (from Wikipedia)

The idea of a new stadium for Kingston upon Hull, whose professional football club Hull City had played at Boothferry Park since 1946, was first mooted in 1997, but funds to finance such a project only became available when the city council sold a portion of its holdings in Kingston Communications.[3] The council provided most of the funds, more than £42 million, with the rest stemming from government single regeneration budget grants and from the Football Stadium Improvement Fund.[3]

The council appointed John Topliss to head the stadium construction project.[3] He and his team partnered with consulting firm Drivers Jonas to explore preliminary issues such as stadium location, seating capacity, and facilities offered. Stated Mr. Topliss: "We had a totally blank canvas and, working with consultants, made a thorough assessment of what was needed."[3]

The project team considered over a dozen sites, inside and outside of the city, before settling on The Circle in West Park.[3] Factors contributing to the decision include transport guidance, central government planning guidelines, existing athletic facilities, isolation from residential areas, and council ownership.[3]

The final recommendation of Drivers Jonas included additional facilities for both indoor and outdoor sports for the people of West Hull in addition to the main stadium, planned to seat from 25,000 to 30,000 spectators.[3] Professional services firm Arup Associates provided initial concept proposals for the stadium.[4] The Miller Partnership, an architectural and interior design firm, adopted these proposals during the stadium's design.[4] The construction work was undertaken by Birse Group.[12]

In spite of obstacles during the course of the project, including Hull City A.F.C.'s receivership in 2001 (just after the granting of planning permission),[3] the stadium complex was completed on time (in fourteen months)[4] and on budget (at approximately GB£44 million).[4] The stadium opened its doors on 18 December 2002. Hull City beat Sunderland A.F.C. 1–0 in a friendly match to mark the occasion.[13] Steve Melton scored the goal, the first at the KC Stadium.[5]

In 2020, the KCOM will host the Super League Grand Final for the first time.[14]

Things to do in Hull.