Ruben Selles sends rallying cry to Hull City players ahead of relegation six-pointer against Derby

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The Championship relegation battle is heading towards a frantic finale. As many as eight teams can still finish in the bottom three in the final two matches.

It is why the Championship is the best league in the world. The drama is unrivalled in the second tier and the spectacle from a neutral point of view is thrilling.

From Stoke City on 50 points in 17th to Plymouth Argyle on 43 points in 24th, a blanket can be placed over the bottom eight teams, and whoever can hold their nerves the best will prevail.

Remarkably, four of the bottom five sides won on Monday, including Hull City, who secured a 2-1 win over Preston North End.

It was a much-needed three points for Ruben Selles after the 1-0 defeat against Swansea City, and it sets up a mouth-watering relegation six-pointer against Derby County this weekend.

Ruben Selles sends rallying cry to Hull City players

A relegation shootout is poised at the MKM Stadium on Saturday. While the Tigers are in 20th place on 48 points, the Rams are one position below on 46 after their 3-1 victory over West Brom.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
18	PrestonPreston	44	10	19	15	45	55	-10	49
19	Oxford UnitedOxford United	44	12	13	19	44	62	-18	49
20	Hull CityHull City	44	12	12	20	43	52	-9	48
21	DerbyDerby	44	12	10	22	47	56	-9	46
22	LutonLuton	44	12	10	22	41	64	-23	46

For both sets of supporters, it promises to be a nail-biting afternoon full of drama, as their future in the division is at stake.

Derby have been working on set-pieces for their visit to East Yorkshire, seeing that as an area where they can catch Hull out.

Meanwhile, Selles has issued a rallying cry to his players ahead of the showdown, telling them that this is ‘now or never’.

“It’s a big opportunity because it’s in our hands. You play football, you’re in the business for that kind of moment,” Selles told Hull Live.

“We obviously want be there for the promotions, or to play in cup finals and to become champions, but these are the big games and in our level this is a big, big game, so we play for those moments. Let’s embrace it and let’s go for it.”

“You will remember that game forever (if City win). “You will remember some of the games and sometimes it’s about the game, but now the reality is that we mentioned many times that it’s in our hands. That game is truly in our hands. It’s now or never.”

• READ MORE: Sunderland fans divided over Regis Le Bris’ tactics and side’s ‘worrying’ form ahead of Championship play-offs

Hull City’s head-to-head record vs Derby County

Derby’s win over West Brom will encourage them ahead of this weekend’s clash, as will their recent record against the Tigers.

Hull have won just one of their previous 11 meetings against the Rams, and that was a 2-0 victory in October 2019.

While Hull will be looking to erase recent history from their memory, Derby will want to build on their four-match unbeaten run to hand them an incredible chance of survival.