Are Hull City genuinely automatic promotion candidates?

Hull City's 1-0 win over a struggling Blackburn side made it four victories in a row and eight wins from their last 10 Championship games. It is a run that has propelled them up to third, just five points off the top two with a game in hand.

This might come as a bit of a surprise to some, but the Tigers have been pretty consistent this season. Only Coventry and Ipswich have scored more Championship goals and they have the division's second-highest points tally on the road. They have also had impressive wins away at Middlesbrough, Southampton and Preston.

There is momentum off the pitch too. January addition Lewis Koumas wasted no time in making an impression, scoring four minutes into his debut after arriving on loan from Liverpool. He has already proved he will be a welcome addition, along with fellow new arrivals Manchester United's Tom Collier and former Middlesbrough defender Paddy McNair.

The win over Blackburn was far from pretty. Hull struggled to create chances and could not find a way through, but promotion-chasing sides find a way to win and that's exactly what Hull did.

And with a game in hand on the top two, no-one should ignore the possibility of Hull City claiming a place in the automatic spots.