PREVIEW | Birmingham City vs Hull City - team news, lineups, predictions

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·16 October 2025

PREVIEW | Birmingham City vs Hull City - team news, lineups, predictions

Birmingham City return to St. Andrew's (Knighthead Park) on Saturday looking to protect their unbeaten home record under Chris Davies as they take on Hull City in round ten of the Championship.

Both sides sit level on 12 points in mid-table, with the Blues 16th after a 1-1 draw at Wrexham last time out and the Tigers one place above them after a 1-0 win over Sheffield United before the international break.

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Birmingham’s form has dipped since August, but their resilience at home could prove key against a Hull side still seeking consistency on the road.

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George Revell (Blues Focus): Birmingham City will look to extend their unbeaten home league run to 30 matches when Hull City visit the 'Second City' on Saturday afternoon.

Blues have sold out each of their four Championship home fixtures so far this season - even the Tuesday night clash with Sheffield Wednesday - and, provided Hull’s supporters can fill the away end, St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park should once again welcome a crowd in excess of 27,000.

The Tigers arrive in B9 with an identical record to the Blues after nine matches - three wins, three draws and three defeats.

Blues boss Chris Davies has plenty to consider when selecting his line-up. Goalkeeper James Beadle replaced Ryan Allsop to start his first league match of the season in the 1-1 draw at Wrexham two weeks ago - and impressed between the sticks.

Demarai Gray returned early with a groin injury which he sustained while on duty with Jamaica, but it is said to be just a precaution, so the Birmingham-born winger should be fit to face Hull.

Unlike Gray, Bright Osayi-Samuel will not be available - and Tomoki Iwata could be preferred at right-back to the out-of-favour Alfons Sampsted.

It will be a tough game for Blues - who will have a lot of attacking threat to deal with in the form of six-goal striker Oli McBurnie and joint top assister Ryan Giles among others - but one that I think they can emerge from victorious.

Prediction: 2-1

Joe Collins (To Hull and Back Podcast): How good it is to have club football back!

The Tigers will have a sold out away end behind them as they step out of the tunnel at St. Andrews', against a Birmingham side that have failed to live up to the expectations of some fans so far.

In a weaker Championship than previous years, many expected 'Brum' to be pushing up the top end of the table after their impressive and heavily bankrolled League One campaign.

Not since the FA Cup Fourth Round in February have they lost at home, and that was to Premier League opposition. But, with one win in six and the same points total as Hull City, it is certainly a winnable contest.

Injuries watch: Joel Ndala returns from a foot problem, John Lundstram will be absent for the next 4-6 weeks after he was substituted off against Sheffield United, Mohamed Belloumi will return to training at the end of the month following a hamstring injury, and November is the month that Eliot Matazo will at long last return to full training from his ACL!

Of the players we've had go on international duty, only Kasey Palmer will not feature, as per Sergej Jakirovic's press interviews this afternoon. Semi Ajayi, John Egan and (most importantly) Liam Millar have all returned in time and ready to travel to Birmingham.

Regarding Palmer, there appeared to be a dispute and a falling out of sorts pre-international break. After being subbed off at half time in midweek against Preston, Palmer was not meant to be in the squad for the win over the Blades. Kyle Joseph pulled out on Saturday morning with illness and, when called by Jakirovic, Palmer declined to fill the now vacant space on the bench because mentally he wasn't ready - according to Jakirovic. It appears the dust has settled now, and Jakirovic has said Palmer is very much part of the squad.

Prediction: 1-2