Blackburn Rovers v Hull City Before his Hull City players get ahead of themselves, Sergej Jakirovic's first demand on Saturday is a pretty basic one: a goal.

Because whilst Blackburn Rovers are trapped in the Championship relegation zone after one win in 14 and fourth-placed Hull visit them on the back of their first three-win week since February 2024, they have no excuse for taking Valerien Ismael's side lightly.

Rovers were the first team to win in East Yorkshire this season, 3-0 in August, and although they could not knock the Tigers out of the FA Cup, a heavily-rotated side at least kept a clean sheet to take the third-round tie to penalties.

"I'm expecting a very tough game because they are fighting for every point," says coach Jakirovic.

"They showed already in the two games that they are a very demanding opponent for us. We didn't score a goal. We will try at least to score one goal.

"When you look at the table we are favourites but they've showed already they are a very tough opponent."

Hull are likely to hand debuts to Paddy McNair and Lewis Koumas, reinforcements who will provide extra energy on top of their footballing qualities to a side facing a six-match February (albeit the first five games are at home).

Mathias Jorgensen has made a good start since joining Blackburn from Bodo/Glimt but so far he is the only new face at a club riven by division as fans rebel against the ownership and the players struggle to lift the mood.

NO WAY THROUGH: Liam Millar is unable to beat Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth in January's FA Cup tie at Hull City (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

placeholder image — NO WAY THROUGH: Liam Millar is unable to beat Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Balazs Toth in January's FA Cup tie at Hull City (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)

"In my opinion the problem is they're struggling with a lot of injuries like us here," says Jakirovic, looking at the on-field picture. "You cannot find the balance in the team when you're playing all the time with maybe your second or third option players.

"They're desperate, they're without wins, so we have to be pragmatic. We have to take our chances and play our style out of possession, to be good on second balls.

"They are also struggling with their pitch, it is not in good condition but we are used to it becuase our training pitches are similar."

McNair has been a free agent since November and now has to make the adjustment from Major League Soccer back to the Championship, which he at least knows well. Jakirovic takes comfort from McNair’s former Middlesbrough team-mate Matt Crooks.

ADJUSTMENT: Matt Crooks (left) made the switch from Major League Soccer to Hull City last January that Paddy McNair is presented with now (Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)

"Matt Crooks came also from MLS (last January)," he points out.

"He (McNair)'s a centre-back who can play in a four, in a five, also maybe as a No 6 (holding midfielder). We will try to improve him, especially his fitness, but he will get his chance to help us for our targets.

"He will travel with us, he will be in the squad and we will see if he will start or he will be on the bench."

Koumas, on loan from Birmingham City, is a player Jakirovic missed out on in the summer but by loaning Enis Destan to Westerlo for the rest of the season, the Tigers have been able to get him this time.

“Jared (Dublin, Hull’s sporting director) told me there's a possibility to take Lewis. He was my wish in the summer but he went to Birmingham.

“Now he's a good option for us and I think he bring us a lot.”