The latest Championship news from HullLive as the Southampton follow up Tigers loss with another at Liverpool and more woe at Sheffield Wednesday
Brian Dick Reach Football Correspondent
14:00, 24 Sep 2025
Charlie Hughes(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock)
Hull City sit 14th in the Championship table, with Saturday’s 3-1 win over Southampton putting them in positive mood ahead of this weekend’s clash with Watford.
It also ended a run of three matches without a win and lifted them to within two points of the top six.
Indeed the Championship is as congested as ever, with the customary sprinkling of surprise results and off-field controversy.
Here’s a round-up of a the main news lines from across the division.
Big deal
TalkSPORT and EFL pundit Adrian Clarke believes City’s retention of Charlie Hughes, amid transfer interest from Coventry City, will be a big factor in the Tigers ‘ season.
City withstood overtures from both the Sky Blues and Sheffield United to keep the 21-year-old who has started all but one game so far this term – and has had the armband on several occasions.
“Charlie Hughes for me that was the big one”, Clarke said on What The EFL podcast.
“He was heavily linked with Coventry, I thought it was kind of done, he was going, I think Coventry maybe thought it was done as well.
“But he ended up staying at Hull and I think that could be a difference-maker for them because when he plays, they definitely defend better.”
Greav-ing process
Valerian Ismael believes the fact former Hull City defender Jacob Greaves had been sent off means the points for last weekend’s abandoned match with Ipswich Town should be awarded to his team.
The Blackburn Rovers boss insists he never agreed to the game being abandoned – with his side 1-0 up and enjoying a numerical advantage both on the scoreboard and the pitch.
However, the playing surface at Ewood Park was holding water and referee Steve Martin called the match off.
Both Rovers and Ipswich have made their cases to the EFL and are now waiting for the board to rule.
Ismael was unequivocal in his stance, saying Rovers should be awarded the win: “Oh yes. It’s clear that when you are 1-0 up, down to ten men for the opponent, we’ve got the momentum… yes on one hand they can score a goal, but on the other hand we have the possibility to score as well.
“I think for us we’ve got the right to want the three points in that situation because I think it’s the fair thing to do, especially when the opponent is down to ten.
“11 v 11 is another situation, but this situation was clear, we were in a clear advantage. The statistics, the data, everything shows that we were on the front foot since the red card.
“It was chaotic after the game. We had to accept the decision. The referee abandoned the game. So we go from there.
“I saw a report from the EFL at the end of the game and I never agreed to stop the game.”
Seeing red
With Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Tigers barely in the rearview mirror, Southampton went to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup last night and were beaten 2-1.
The match was notable for Hugo Ekitike replacing club record signing Alexander Isak, who got the Reds’ first goal, scoring and then being sent off for taking off his shirt in celebration and earning a second yellow card in the process.
Boss Will Still at least saw the funny side of the red card for Ekitike, whom he had as a player at Reims.
“Hugo cracks me up. We caught up before the game and he said he would come on and score and give me his shirt and b****r off,” he said.
“We had a massive chance, hit the crossbar, somehow not put the ball in the back of the net and 30-40 seconds they have gone up the other end and we have put it on a plate for them.
“It sums up our season so far. We seem to keep shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Owls protest
Meanwhile supporters of City’s Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday are planning another protest at this weekend’s game at home to QPR.
The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust has called on fans to protest in the tenth minute of the game, symbolising the ten years Dejphon Chansiri has been in charge at Hillsborough
Supporters are urged to raise black and gold protest scarves, which can be purchased before the match.
However, Owls fans are also urged not to purchase drinks, food or merchandise inside the ground.
In a statement carried by the Sheffield Star the Trust said: “With scarves raised and the black and gold theme stronger than ever, this demonstration will have even greater visual impact than the previous one.
“Although this game isn’t on TV, it’s vital we maintain momentum. Every protest builds towards the next home league fixture, which will be televised live on Sky – a huge platform to show the country how strong this movement has become.
“This is growing, week by week. The message is spreading. Together, we are louder and stronger.”
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