Hull City's Robert Snodgrass says beating Middlesbrough would be '˜massive'

With good cause, too, as amid all the ups and downs of another crazily unpredictable Championship season, Hull City and Middlesbrough have been a constant presence in the top six since August.

For much of the 2015-16 campaign, automatic promotion seemed very much on the cards for both clubs. But not any more.

Certainly not together, at least, with Burnley’s early break for the finishing line having seen Sean Dyche’s men open up what, with each passing week, looks an increasingly unassailable lead.

As the Clarets have prospered, both Hull and Boro have stumbled and now it is Brighton who occupy second place.

All is far from lost, however, with tomorrow night offering the Yorkshire duo an opportunity to reclaim control of their own destiny.

Three points for either side would be enough to return to second place and move clear of the chasing pack, meaning a faultless run-in once the Championship resumes after Easter would make tomorrow night’s victor uncatchable in the hunt for automatic promotion.

“The Boro game is very important now,” admitted Robert Snodgrass in the wake of Hull dropping more points in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at home to Nottingham Forest.

“There will be twists and turns (during the run-in), but we know this will be a massive result. A win could set us up.

“It is a chance to damage our rivals. If you want to be champions or want to go up automatically then these are the games you need to win.

“We want to go up there and get the result. Of course, Boro will want to win just as much as we do.

“It is never nice when things are not going your way. But we need to turn these draws into wins. We need to win on Friday.

“Then, we can regroup after the international break feeling fresh mentally and ready to go again.”

Hull’s problems in recent weeks are clear for all to see. In the club’s last eight outings, just five goals have been scored and 10 points claimed. Over the same period, leaders Burnley have bagged seven wins and one draw.

Boro are locked in a similarly wretched cycle with just three wins and five defeats from 11 outings. Worse still, head coach Aitor Karanka walked out last weekend amid suggestions of a fall-out with his players.

The Spaniard has since returned, but Snodgrass believes the huge upheaval at the Riverside has had a big impact on the Boro lads. “There is always talk (in a dressing room) about why things happen,” said the Scot.

“It has affected the players because against Charlton (in last Sunday’s defeat) they looked mentally drained with all the things that had gone on.

“But he is back now. Plus, we don’t focus on other teams, we have to focus on ourselves because we have not been getting the results. We have to get the three points.”

For Hull, getting back to what they did best earlier in the season means hitting the goal-trail again.

There were positive signs against Forest, most notably from the creative performances of Snodgrass and Mohamed Diame.

The Tigers duo were a constant threat, but more is needed from the rest of the team, most notably up front where Abel Hernandez’s night was typified by an early shot that struck a post from a chance that a few weeks ago he would have taken ruthlessly.

Sone Aluko did come on and net the equaliser, his first goal since August, but there can be little doubt just how damaging the current run has been.

“This is the Championship,” added Snodgrass. “We have to do better collectively and as a team to try and get a result. We need to stick together. No-one is going to give us any points.

“We have to show more character when on the ball to make things happen. Forest was very, very frustrating. We need to win these games. If we keep dropping points we will blow promotion.

“There will be twists and turns, but what we have to do is get automatic. There is no room for error now. The last 10 games are cup finals. Let’s go for it.”

Hull, meanwhile, are scrapping season tickets for 2016-17 in favour of a new membership scheme that the club claims will lead to more than “90 per cent of fans” benefiting from cheaper admission.

New Oyster-style smart cards will be introduced for entry to the KC Stadium along with monthly membership fees that will start at £21 and peak at £51, the price being dependent on where a fan sits.

It means instead of the current annual charge to become a season ticket holder, supporters will take out a rolling direct debit arrangement akin to a Sky Sports or gym subscription.

Curtis Davies has signed a contract extension until the end of the 2017-18 season. His current deal expires this summer.