Hull City's worrying trend continued v Derby County - Ruben Selles needs a solution by 2:30pm on Saturday | OneFootball

The Tigers have been on the wrong end of many narrow scorelines this term - it cannot happen at Fratton Park

Hull City supporters aren't strangers to dramatic end-of-season showdowns, and yet another is to come as Ruben Selles' side make the long trek down to Portsmouth on Saturday.

12 months ago, those from East Yorkshire made the lengthy journey to Plymouth Argyle with a shot at the play-offs and potentially, Premier League football for the first time since 2017. However, they travel to Fratton Park knowing that defeat will consign the club to a second stint in League One in the past five years.

The relegation battle in the Championship this term has been as compelling as ever - for the neutral, at least - with no less than five teams praying for survival this weekend, and through the fate of the 'fixture computer', City's destiny is somewhat in their control if at least a draw is earned in PO4, despite being plunged into the bottom three after their latest defeat - a damaging 1-0 loss to relegation rivals Derby County courtesy of Nat Phillips' late header

Once again, the encounter against John Eustace's side was one of narrow margins, but the manner of the result and performance was one which summed up the Tigers' campaign as a whole, with an alarming trend continuing, and one which Selles has to address in order to stave off the drop.

Hull City have lost so many narrow contests in the Championship

City's season has been one of extremely mixed records and trends, with the club holding one of the strongest away records outside the division's top four sides - which includes victories against Sheffield United and Sunderland - as well as having the best defensive record in the bottom half.

However, contrast those stats with the worst home record in the division, the second-worst goal tally and joint-second-highest number of defeats, it's no surprise that the men in Black and Amber have failed to pull clear of where they currently find themselves.

What's even more concerning is that, out of those 21 defeats, 15 have been by a one-goal margin, with some of those against Luton Town (twice), away to already-relegated Cardiff City, Oxford United and Preston North End, as well as being on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline against Stoke City at the MKM in February.

It's been a story of a lack of ruthlessness under Selles and Tim Walter, highlighted by the fact the Tigers have only created 77 big chances across the season and have missed 57 of those, with no one netting more than six times thus far across the board.

Unsurprisingly, by holding the best defensive record in the bottom 12, Hull have also conceded the joint-least number of goals per game among this cluster of teams with a figure of 1.2 - level with Derby.

Regardless, so many of those concessions have been preventable, despite Ivor Pandur's standout performances between the posts, and it is a scary thought to think how many points the Tigers could be adrift by if it wasn't for the Croatian's services, with it looking extremely likely the 25-year-old will take home the Player of the Season award in HU3.

Despite replacing Jacob Greaves with the equally impressive Charlie Hughes, there have been several calls from supporters that, regardless of whether City are in the second or third tier next season, the rearguard is in need of an overhaul, with Alfie Jones, Sean McLoughlin and Lewie Coyle all survivors from Grant McCann's title-winning squad of 2020/21.

The final day is known to throw up plenty of twists and turns, although the scenario of needing a season-defining positive result on the South Coast is one which those of a Hull persuasion would have wanted to avoid, especially with John Mousinho's men unbeaten in four, as well as losing just twice at Fratton Park since late October.

Pompey have taken 39 of their 53 points on home turf this season, accumulating victories in half of those 22 games up to now, with the top three of Leeds United, Burnley and Sheffield United all failing to leave with maximum points too.

Seven of the Blues' wins have also been decided by a one-goal margin, and with tension set to fill the air in the away end, a cagey game looks more than likely to play out.

By 2:30pm on Saturday, the final balls will have been kicked as a resurgent Luton take on West Brom, Preston face Bristol City at Ashton Gate, whilst Derby and Stoke are up against one another at Pride Park, with the result in the East Midlands potentially bearing huge ramifications for Hull's own predicament if one side emerges victorious, coupled with victory for Selles' men.

If that is the case, City cannot afford to continue the aforementioned trend to continue or else it will be curtains in terms of second-tier football and, potentially, Acun Ilicali's dream of eventually bringing top-flight football back to East Yorkshire, which would leave an extreme sense of regret and anger clouding over the MKM.