Hull City v CHELSEA: FA Cup Preview

Date: Friday thirteenth
February 2026

Venue: The MKM Stadium

Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Effectively, after Tuesday night time’s tragicomedy towards Leeds—a efficiency which certainly satisfied a minimum of three grandmas to take up refereeing—tonight it’s FA Cup time on the MKM Stadium. Our reward? An away journey to Hull Metropolis, who occur to be the final English membership the place Liam Rosenior polished his managerial sneakers earlier than being despatched packing in Might 2024.

Hull
stumble into tonight’s conflict with Chelsea lugging an eight-game shedding streak,
practically so long as the look ahead to chips at Stamford Bridge after the ultimate
whistle. We’ve already bundled them out of the cup twice lately—February 2018
and January 2020—so it’s truthful to imagine Hull’s baggage is full of hope,
plus a back-up flask of Yorkshire Tea

And
Chelsea? Effectively, if anybody finds a method to play for greater than 47 minutes, please
ship directions to Cobham instantly. Our “methods to lose a lead” act is so
polished, we might train a masterclass—our defence is extra giving than Santa at
the Christmas do, and our stamina’s about as dependable as a Southern Rail
timetable.

Brighton gave us the
boot at this stage final 12 months, so whether or not we undergo tonight relies on which
Chelsea aspect turns up: the one taking part in Santa, the one on a charity drive, or
(dare we dream) the one which remembers methods to truly win from in entrance.

Right here’s hoping the one factor we give away
tonight is a hearty giggle and never one other cup run!

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into
at the moment’s recreation, Hull supervisor, Sergej Jakirovic, says “What can I say about
Chelsea? Chelsea is Chelsea. We’ll put together every part. Perhaps we’ll use this
recreation to provide some minutes to these gamers who want minutes, we’ll see. We
should be sensible on this recreation. We shall be in a low block, perhaps we are able to play with a
shovel, I don’t know. Will probably be very fascinating as a result of they’re excellent
and Liam (Rosenior) has a really large roster. They performed on Saturday (received 3-1 at
Wolves), and on Tuesday once more (at house to Leeds), so we’ll see who will play
towards us.”

Liam
Rosenior, in the meantime, says “It’s a troublesome recreation. That is going to be a
troublesome recreation. I need to do effectively on this competitors. I don’t see it any
totally different to a Premier League recreation or a Champions League recreation. We’re going
there with a crew that I feel shall be ok to win the sport. I need to
take this recreation actually, actually significantly.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Hull, Semi Ajayi (hamstring), Mohamed
Belloumi (hamstring), Cody Drameh (thigh), Darko Gyabi (groin), Matts Crooks
(hamstring) and Eliot Matazo (knee) are all anticipated to overlook out.

For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL), Jamie Gittens (hamstring), Romeo Lavia (thigh),
Dario Essugo (thigh) and Marc Cucurella (hamstring) are all injured and Mykhaylo
Mudryk stays suspended. Tosin Adarabioyo, Filip Jorgensen and Reece James will
be assessed for inclusion.

TEAMS

HULL
(Doable line-up): Pandur; McNair, Egan, Hughes; Coyle,
Slater, Lundstram, Giles; Gelhardt; Joseph, McBurnie

CHELSEA (Doable line-up): Sanchez, Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; Neto, Estevao, Garnacho; Delap

LAST MEETING

Hull 1-2 Chelsea (twenty fifth
January 2020)

CURRENT FORM (ALL)

HULL: WWWWDL

CHELSEA: WWWLWD

OTHER STUFF

Hull
have received considered one of their final 35 video games towards Chelsea in all competitionsHull
have misplaced their final 8 video games towards ChelseaChelsea have progressed from all eight of
their FA Cup ties towards Hull Hull wish to attain the FA Cup
fifth spherical for the primary time since 2017-18.Hull
have been eradicated of their final 16 ties towards top-flight groups whereas
taking part in outdoors the top-flight themselvesChelsea have progressed from 62 of their
final 64 FA Cup ties towards sides from outdoors the Premier League

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Hull 1-3 Chelsea