William Jackson’s opinion - Can Tigers clip promotion-chasing Bluebirds’ wings?
Saturday 28th April 2018
It’s not unusual for Hull City fans to experience tension, anxiety and nerves on the final home game of the season, but for once all those feelings will be emanating from the away end. With two Championship matches to spare, the Tigers sealed their survival last weekend as a dramatic 5-5 draw at Ashton Gate proved enough.
Nevertheless, while the Tigers are playing for nothing but pride and places for next season, Cardiff find themselves well and truly in the race for promotion. After occupying a top two spot for most of the season, three losses in the last five games has put all their hard work at risk, with in-form Fulham breathing down their neck.
The defeat to Derby County on Tuesday will have done little to ease the pressure and the Bluebirds travel to the KCOM Stadium, knowing a win will ensure they head into the final weekend in the automatic promotion places.
Nigel Adkins will likely tinker with his side, as he has done successfully for the last month and with a number of faces all hoping to impress ahead of next season, motivation for the Tigers shouldn’t be an issue.
However, as a wretched season draws to a welcome close, the head coach will no doubt be keen to sign off the campaign with a victory and send long-suffering supporters home happy. It will be up to Cardiff to be the protagonists, given what is at stake for the club in the promotion picture. However, in the last five games City have scored 16 league goals, more than any club in the country, and you would have to be a brave man to bet against Adkins’ side from adding to that tally once more this weekend.
Prediction: Hull City 2-2 Cardiff City
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