Competition: Championship

Market: Hull City win

Odds: 1/1 @ Pribet

Looking to extend on their remarkable Championship fairytale, Hull will travel to Hillsborough on Boxing Day afternoon when they meet Sheffield Wednesday.

Starting with the hosts, dealing with a string of public financial issues behind the scenes at Hillsborough this year, it is no secret that Sheffield Wednesday are already preparing for life back in League One. Already hit with a pair of points deductions and sat rock-bottom of the Championship standings, Henrik Pedersen’s men are in the midst of what has become an infamous nightmare. Last seen falling to a routine 3-1 defeat away at Ipswich, the Owls have registered just one-point from any of their previous seven consecutive Championship appearances – a rut that stems all the way back to a 1-1 stalemate against fellow relegation scrappers Norwich on November 5th. It should also be highlighted, Wednesday have put just a single Championship victory on the board from any of their 21 attempts so far this season. Likewise, shipping 43 second-tier strikes, Pedersen’s downbeat squad hold the worst defensive tally in the division and they look set for what will be another stern examination on Boxing Day.

As for the visitors, while Hull might have only dragged themselves over the finishing line last season as they clung to their Championship status, the Tigers have firmly cemented their spot as one of England’s ultimate surprise packages this time around. Embarking on what has become a sensational fairytale at the MKM Stadium, Sergej Jakirovic’s side are riding a major wave of momentum and should be excited by a Boxing Day trip to Hillsborough. Opening Christmas Day sat in fourth-place and knowing that they can move within touching distance of the automatic promotion spots, Hull have rightfully received a string of plaudits from up and down the country. Last seen securing a 1-0 victory at home against West Brom, Friday’s guests have won their previous three consecutive Championship appearances by an aggregate score of 6-1. Likewise, laying down a real marker earlier in the month as they stormed their way to an empathic 3-1 win away at Millwall, Hull have also registered 12 points from their last five outings. Given what has been a huge recent gulf in class between Friday’s opponents, we are backing an away win here.

Bet: Hull City 1/1 to beat Sheffield Wednesday in Friday’s Championship showdown @ Pribet