Southampton v Hull: play-off push meets mid-table climb | OneFootball

Southampton host Hull in the Championship at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday, 17 January 2026, with the visitors chasing the play-offs and the hosts looking to steady after a mixed run.

Southampton and Hull City meet with recent head to head momentum on the visitors' side. Hull City won the reverse fixture 3-1 in September and have three wins from the last five meetings.

The Saints have taken two points from their past four league games, drawing with Birmingham and Millwall before a heavy loss at Middlesbrough, though they did edge past Doncaster 3-2 in the FA Cup. Hull have won two of their last four league matches and also beat Blackburn on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup.

Injuries shape selection. Southampton list Mads Roerslev, Cameron Bragg and Shea Charles as sidelined. Hull are without Joe Gelhardt, John Lundstram and Ryan Giles, while Cody Drameh and Mohamed Belloumi are among a longer absentee group.

On the pitch, Saints typically see more of the ball, averaging 58% possession with 84.60% pass accuracy this season, and could look to control the game at home. Hull have scored 40 league goals with notably accurate open play crossing at 26.45%, so deliveries from wide may be a route forward. Adam Armstrong leads the league scoring with 11 and carries the main home threat, while Oliver McBurnie has nine for Hull and Lewie Coyle has supplied four assists.

Hull sit seventh on 41 points and, with a win, could move into the play-off places. Saints are 15th on 33 and victory would lift them to 36 points and closer to the top half.