After a nightmare start to 2006 the tigers will be looking to pick up their first points of the year when they make the trip to the Potteries to take on Stoke City.Stoke took the points in a 1-0 win back at the K.C in August so the Tigers will be out for revenge.
Vital Quotes:
Peter Taylor’s thoughts on the game.
‘There are reasons why we’re in a bad run. It may be the quality of opposition or it might be the lack of belief that we’ve had at times, but we’ve got to put it right.’
‘I see my players every day in training and know how good they can be. But they’ve got to show it on a Saturday afternoon as well as on the training ground.’
‘There are people out there telling me where it has gone wrong and I would remind them that our last four games have been against Leeds, Sheffield United, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace.’
‘If someone has asked me two or three years ago if I’d fancy losing four on the spin but it would be against sides like that then I’d have said yes.
‘We deserved something from the games against Leeds and Sheffield United, but not from the ones with Villa and Palace.
‘Our start against Palace just wasn’t good enough and we looked nervous.
‘The players are aware that they can’t keep saying we’re losing games because of ‘this and that’.
‘Everyone here knows we’re not far away from getting it right, but we need to do it and do it now.’
Stoke Team News:
Like the Tigers, Stoke City have a bit of an injury crisis with Dave Brammer, Luke Chadwick and Darel Russell all major doubts for the game.
Top scorer Sam Bangoura is away on Africa Nations cup duty with Guinea, so on loan Blackburn striker Paul Gallacher could well start alongside Mamady Sadibe.
Stoke had a tough game against Tamworth in the F.A Cup on Tuesday night so manager Johan Boskamp may well rest some of his first teamers.
Player to watch: Paul Gallacher
On loan Blackburn striker Paul Gallacher could be the key man for Stoke, he has pace to burn as well as a vicious left foot shot, we can all remember him scoring the winner for Stoke against the Tigers at the K.C earlier in the season.
He has bagged 7 goals this season and is comfortable playing as an out and out striker or just behind the front two.
Hull C Team News:
Hull could be without the injured Nick Barmby and Stuart Green, as well as there long term casualties, Stephen Mcphee, Danny Coles, Ian Ashbee, Ben Burgess.
The big question is will he start with our 2 new strikers up front Jon Parkin & Darryl Duffy. If he does then we could well see Craig Fagan out on the right wing.Elliot could well start on the left if Barmby does’nt make it. Delaney will probably play at left back with either Woodhouse or Welsh slotting into the midfield.
Despite Alton Thelwell making his comeback on Tuesday for the reserves it is unlikely he wil be risked so the right back spot would appear to be between France & Lynch.
I would expect Cort & Collins to continue in the centre of defence.
Probable Line Up
Myhill, France or Lynch, Cort, Collins, Delaney, Fagan or Price, Andrews, Welsh or Woodhouse, Elliot or Barmby, Parkin, Duffy or Fagan.
Player to watch: John Parkin
John Parkin looked to be a decent player last week and if he starts with Duffy up front then we could well see some fireworks in the Stoke penalty area.
Fagan on the right would give us plenty of pace and he could worry the Stoke Defence.
Match Facts & Stats
The last time these teams met earlier in the season it was Stoke who triumphed 1-0 at the K.C.
History shows that both teams have a pretty even record against each other,with the last 7 encounters resulting in 2 wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats for the Tigers.
Both teams are also on a bad losing streak with Stoke’s last league win coming on the 17th December, since which they have only picked up 1 point in the league.
Ref Watch:
Match referee is Andy D’Urso.
Experienced Premiership referee Andy D’Urso last took charge of a City game in August this season when we played Plymouth Away.He sent off Marc Joseph and booked Fagan & Myhill. He averages about 2 yellows a game so hopefully he will keep it flowing.
Match Prediction:
Stoke will have taken confidence from their midweek cup win, but City have got a bad 4 game run out the way and will be looking to take maximum points away from the Brittania Stadium.
Match Prediction Stoke 1 – 2 Tigers
Next Fixtures:
31st Jan… Hull City v Coventry Coca Cola Championship
28th Jan…. Stoke v Walsall F.A Cup 4th Rnd
