Both Hull City and Bristol City have their sights set on breaking into the Championship’s top six this season following respectable top-half finishes last year. Hull narrowly missed out on the playoffs, while Bristol City finished 11th and are hopeful of an improved performance under Liam Manning in his first full season at the helm.
Despite Hull’s home advantage, their summer has seen significant squad changes, including the departures of key players Jaden Philogene and Ozan Tufan. However, the signing of Marvin Mehlem could be pivotal, although it might take time for the new-look squad to gel.
Hull’s pre-season hasn’t inspired confidence, suggesting they may need more time to adjust as a unit. On the other hand, Bristol City have maintained stability over the summer, and their strong pre-season form indicates they are poised to start the season well, building on a robust end to the last campaign where they lost only one of their final eight matches.
While Bristol City struggled to keep clean sheets away from home last season, conceding in 10 of their final 12 away games, Hull’s transitional phase might give the Robins an edge. Given the circumstances, a 2-1 victory for Bristol City could be on the cards, marking them as potential surprise packages early in the season.
Betting tip – Bristol to win at 5/2
