Championship promotion-chasing Hull Metropolis will look to proceed their spectacular run of kind after they welcome a faltering Stoke Metropolis on New 12 months’s Day (15:00 GMT kick-off).
The Tigers are fourth and solely two factors off the automated promotion locations after a five-game unbeaten run (W4 D1), together with a powerful 1-0 win at Middlesbrough final trip.
Commercial
The Potters have slipped to tenth, 4 factors adrift of the highest six, after simply two wins from their previous 10 video games (D1 L7).
Hull Metropolis have misplaced this actual fixture in every of the previous 4 campaigns, failing to attain in three of these defeats. The Tigers misplaced 2-1 at house to the Potters final season.
Stoke Metropolis have solely gained extra away video games within the EFL towards West Bromwich Albion (26) than Hull Metropolis (14 – stage with Wolves).
Hull’s first league recreation of the 12 months hasn’t resulted in a attract any of the previous 12 years (W6 L6), since a goalless draw with Blackpool on New 12 months’s Day 2013.
Stoke’s video games on New 12 months’s Day in each 2024 (v Ipswich) and 2025 (v Burnley) ended goalless = solely three groups have ever had three consecutive video games on 1 January finish 0-0 within the EFL: Hull Metropolis (1972-1977), Stoke Metropolis (1972-1977) and Hereford United (1994-2008).
Towards no facet has Hull Metropolis’s Matt Crooks scored extra targets towards within the EFL than Stoke Metropolis (5 – stage with Bristol Metropolis).