Tigers mauling of Seagulls on the cards despite low scoring history

Hull City and Brighton and Hove Albion have mustered up just four goals in their last five head-to-heads, with two of those games being scoreless draws. Coral’s odds of 7/1 say the match will finish 0-0 after 90 minutes.

The Tigers host Championship side Brighton in an FA Cup fifth round replay on the back of thrashing Cardiff City 4-0 in Wales, but recent history suggests this fixture will be a low scoring affair. You may fancy your chances at 7/4 that the game will contain a total goal count of under 1.5 in normal time.

January signing Nikica Jelavic grabbed two goals at the Cardiff City Stadium, but, along with fellow striker Shane Long, is cup-tied having previously played in the knockout competition for Everton and West Brom respectively. That leaves Yannick Sagbo and Sone Aluko as likely contenders to start up front.

Tom Huddlestone also netted against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, but Brighton will be encouraged to hear this England World Cup hopeful (14/1 to make Roy Hodgson’s summer squad) is a doubt for the game.

The Seagulls managed to draw 1-1 with Hull at home in the original tie, but were agonisingly close to seeing off their opponents, after an opening half goal from forward Leonardo Ulloa was left unanswered until Sagbo’s 85th minute strike. Back the Argentine, who has scored in each of his last four matches, at 7/4 to net at anytime.

Brighton would have felt hard done by on the south coast, having controlled most of the game, but will find it very tricky to overcome this confident Hull team at the KC Stadium. A home quarter-final prize against former Seagulls boss Gus Poyet and Sunderland awaits the winner of this match-up.

Current manager Oscar Garcia goes into this game with his side on the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Wigan Athletic in the league and, as he clings onto hope of finishing the season in the playoffs, expect a few changes in the line-up.

Past meetings point towards a 1-0 victory for Hull, with odds of 17/4, but it could easily be more. It is 3/4 for a home win, and with the Tigers now up in 11th and sixth points clear of the relegation places, they can afford to field a strong side.

Coral are giving odds of 33/1 for Hull to repeat their 4-0 scoreline against Cardiff, but with their lack of strike power, a 2-0 result seems a good shout at 6/1.