It's no secret that Hull City's form at the MKM Stadium over recent seasons has been well below standard since they were promoted back to the Championship, and it's the reason they find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle.

Their poor form in front of their own supporters played a huge part in Liam Rosenior's side failing to get into the play-offs last season, despite a squad which featured the likes of Jacob Greaves, Jean Michael Seri, Tyler Morton, Liam Delap and Jaden Philogene, many of which are now playing regularly in the Premier League.

Tim Walter couldn't halt City's dreadful form at the MKM Stadium and while Ruben Selles has got the Tigers upwardly mobile, results at home have still not been anywhere near where they need to be.

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City sit bottom of the form table at home with just two wins from their 15 games, drawing six and losing the other seven. Since Selles arrived, the former Reading boss has drawn against Watford and Leeds United and lost games to Middlesbrough and QPR, with the sole victory coming against Swansea City. There's also the 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers, which saw City eliminated on penalties thrown in for good measure.

Even Plymouth Argyle, who are starting to get cut adrift at the foot of the table, have mustered four wins from their 14 home outings, and it's something City must find a cure for in the remaining weeks if they're to escape the clutches of the Championship's nether regions, which, given the players at their disposal, must surely happen?

Seven new players should help, given they will arrive with a fresh outlook and no preconceived ideas about the troubles experienced in front of their own supporters. Building on the emphatic performance and result at Bramall Lane is a must.

Selles' men have 17 games remaining with just eight of those coming at home. Four of those eight are against sides in and around them at the foot of the table starting with Stoke City this weekend. City will also welcome Plymouth Argyle, Luton Town and Derby County to the MKM Stadium, as well as Norwich City, Oxford United (now flying up the table under Gary Rowett), Coventry City and Preston North End.

Away from home, the Tigers sit ninth with five wins from 14, a form which is in stark contrast to their efforts at home, and Selles must find a way to turn that around if they're to back up the good work being done on the road.

They simply have to find a solution for what is becoming an unexplained and inherently frustrating - and damaging - record at home, which has seen the club muster only 26 wins from 84 games since returning to the Championship in the summer of 2021.

Only Carlisle United, Burton Albion and Morecambe have picked up fewer points at home this season in the entire EFL, and while few within the corridors of City's training ground will want to talk about it, the fact is the Tigers simply have to find a way to start winning games at home if they are to drag themselves away from trouble because it is a rather large elephant in the room that nobody can escape.

There can be no excuses; Selles' players must now find a way to win games of football on their own pitch and shred the dreaded curse of playing at the MKM Stadium. Otherwise, the threat of relegation is going to loom large for the remainder of the campaign.