Will Blackburn Rovers provide a tough test for strugglers Hull City?

Hull City take on Blackburn Rovers looking to stem the run of three successive defeats in the league following a disappointing performance in their 2-0 loss to Stoke City at the weekend.

With only three strikers at their disposal and all lacking real experience of Championship football, the Tigers struggled to threaten a stubborn Stoke rearguard, registering just one shot on target.

What was lacking from Hull’s display was the lack of energy across the pitch in a surprisingly flat performance and one that has rarely been in recent months. The Tigers’ midfield, which has been ultra-competitive of late, also was relatively poor in a display that had the alarm bells ringing amongst the fanbase.

Richie Smallwood, who has arguably been Hull’s best player of the season, was missing from Sunday’s lineup as he sat on the bench. With Grant McCann opting to give fan favourite Tom Huddlestone some much needed minutes as a potential asset in the second half of the season, the veteran looked short in mobility.

Smallwood has set the tone in many games already this season with his ability to go to war with the opposition, and that has certainly rubbed off on the likes of Greg Docherty. The latter struggled to find form in the Championship up until Smallwood was brought into the midfield.

With his terrier-like demeanour, Docherty has fought his way back into form in a midfield dynamic that suits his characteristics well and he is another player that is well up for a battle first and foremost. What has followed for Docherty alongside Smallwood has been increased confidence as Hull won four games on the bounce before the Christmas period.

Whilst there is no doubting the technical ability of Huddlestone and what he can bring to the team, Smallwood refreshed after reduced minutes at the weekend and up against his former club, points towards him being one of the first names on the teamsheet.

McCann himself alluded to the high regard that Smallwood was held in during his time at Ewood Park, to the extent that Tony Mowbray’s office had his picture pinned to the wall with the word ‘warrior’ titled on it.

Despite Hull struggling at times with the demands of Championship having taken the step up from League One, there is now the challenge to inject another dose of momentum into their season. The sheer wave of energy in their front press has enabled them to get on the front foot in games, but this has always been a collective effort when winning games and picking up crucial points.

With the takeover yet to go through, McCann has his hands tied in the transfer market and has so far been unable to bring reinforcements through the door. There appears to be uncertainty creeping into the camp about what direction any potential owner will want to take the club in. Will he want a new management setup? Will he want to replace current members of the squad? The prolonged delay does not help anybody at this point.

Against high flying Blackburn, second in the table, it will be a challenge for Hull to take something out of the game and stem the flow of defeats. Whilst they did keep going until the final minutes against Stoke, the introduction of subs Smallwood and Randell Williams was too little too late.

Williams did impact the game with a couple of good deliveries into the penalty box from left wing-back, however, with indecision and lack of confidence, Hull could not take any advantage of those opportunities.

With the defenders up against some more unorthodox players in the form of D’Margio Wright-Phillips, the Tigers will be up against one of the brightest stars of the Championship this season in the form of Ben Brereton Diaz.

Diaz has experienced a miraculous rise to fame this season following his unexpected call up to the Chilean national team. His confidence has rocketed consequently, and with 20 goals to his name this season, it is no surprise that he is one of the poster boys in the country.

The knock-on effects could not have come at a better time, having had to contend with the loss of Adam Armstrong in the summer. It has been quite the turnaround for Brereton Diaz, as initially his move from Nottingham Forest for £7 million was viewed by many fans as a dreadful signing.

Struggling for confidence and for form, the 22-year-old has worked on his physicality and technical ability to work his way back into the type of form that saw him move for a big-money fee back in 2019.

Tony Mowbray has done an exceptional job for Blackburn and they have met the challenge full on after losing their star striker. They have maintained the levels of consistency, which is a pre-requisite for any assault in the race for promotion.

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