Hobbs and Hull ready to increase pressure on Watford

JACK HOBBS believes Hull City playing tomorrow night represents a huge opportunity to crank up the pressure on promotion rivals Watford.

Victory for the Tigers over already relegated Bristol City at the KC Stadium in front of the live Sky cameras will leave the Hornets, who do not play until Saturday, needing to win all three of their own remaining games to maintain any hopes of going up.

Even then, Gianfranco Zola’s men – who boast a vastly superior goal difference to City – will need their Yorkshire rivals to be beaten by both Barnsley and Cardiff on the final two weekends of the season.

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Hobbs, who will captain the side against the Robins if Robert Koren fails to recover from a calf strain, said: “We were bitterly disappointed with the result (on Tuesday when City lost 1-0 to Wolves). But the big plus was the results elsewhere going our way. We are as we were, but one game further along.

“Our mood changed so quickly at full-time. We were disappointed to lose but then Rosey (Liam Rosenior) came off the bench at full-time to tell us the Millwall result and that Watford had lost. That came as a relief.

“Until then, I just thought we’d blown a big opportunity. Palace and Watford had been on a bad run but I thought it might be too much to expect them to keep losing.

“Now, though, we can put some real pressure on them because we play Friday. If we can get a result, that will place huge pressure on Watford.

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“And the form they have been in just adds to that. If we can add a bit more (by beating Bristol City) then it would be fantastic.”

Watford host Blackburn Rovers on Saturday before travelling to Leicester City a week tomorrow for a fixture that will also be shown live on Sky. Then, as Hull host Cardiff on the final day, the Hornets will also be on home soil as Leeds United head to Vicarage Road.

Hobbs added: “Playing Friday night means a little less recovery time. But, at the same time, it gives us the chance to crank up the pressure by getting the job done.

“Then, we can watch the results come in on the Saturday. The roles are reversed the following weekend as Watford play Friday at Leicester and us the day after.

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“Everyone watches Friday games when you are a footballer. They will be hoping for us to slip up.

“It is a roller-coaster with late goals and so on. This league is unbelievable. I have never known anything like it. Look at a team like Peterborough, they are top of the form table but still deep in trouble. Anyone can beat anyone.”

City’s defeat at Wolves came after a below par display. Bruce’s men had plenty of possession but only rarely threatened the home defence, most notably during the second half when Jay Simpson shot against a post.