Hull City take on Premiership outfit Watford in the third round of the League Cup tonight. With the Tigers struggling in the Championship, the cup brings a welcome break from league football as City look to shock the Premiership side and progress through to the latter stages of the cup competition.
Vital Quotes:
Watford Team News:
Striker Marlon King may miss this fixture. With the striker recovering from a knee injury, Bothroyd may not want to risk the striker in this game.
Last time out, Watford rested several first-team players but although Bothroyd won’t rest as many players, goalkeeper Richard Lee should feature.
Defenders Chris Powell and Malky Mackay will feature along with midfielders Matthew Spring and Al Bangura as he changes his side.
Player to watch: Ashley Young
Whether the lively winger will play or not is unknown but if he does, Young will be Watford’s main threat. The winger has played well in the Premiership so far and he is one to look out for in the future.
Hull City Team News:
Hull City will be without Danny Mills, Nicky Forster and Michael Bridges whom are all cup-tied. Andy Dawson, Daryl Duffy and Jon Parkin are expected to be recalled to the side in their place.
Apart from a possible change of formation from Saturday’s 4-5-1, Parkinson may opt to shuffle his pack as he looks to gain some confidence going into a crucial fixture against Sunderland at the weekend.
Player to watch: Daryl Duffy
The striker has been scoring in the reserves and if he can net tonight, the Scottish striker may be pushing for a recall into the first-team.
Match Facts & Stats
Stats supplied by Rob Overfield.
Hull City – Watford
All matches:
Played: 31
Won: 10
Drawn: 13
Lost: 8
Goals For: 43
Goals Against: 42
Matches at Watford:
Played: 15
Won: 2
Drawn: 7
Lost: 6
Goals For: 17
Goals Against: 27
Cup matches
09/01/1988 FAC 3 at Watford 1-1; G Roberts. Att: 12,761
12/01/1988 FAC 3R vs Watford 2-2; Williams, Dyer. Att: 13,681
18/01/1988 FAC 32R vs Watford 0-1; Att: 15,261
Best result(s) (at Watford)
29/08/1970 Watford 1 HCFC 2
Chilton, Wagstaff
Attn: 17,034
20/10/1971 Watford 1 HCFC 2
Wagstaff, I Butler
Attn: 7,983
Worst result (at Watford)
14/05/1979 Watford 4 HCFC 0
Attn; 26,347
Ref Watch:
Referee: I G Williamson
Assistant Referee’s: D S Bryan and I J Gosling
Fourth Official : K A Friend
Match Prediction:
A lot depends on the sides that both managers play tonight. Both managers will be making changes from their last match but Watford should be too strong for the Tigers.
Last season, City achieved a 0-0 draw on the last day of the season at Vicarage Road and a similar result tonight would send the tie into extra-time. Parkinson will want to win to ease the pressure on the team’s league performances but Watford will be difficult to break down.
Unfortunately, I will predict a narrow Watford win but I’m hoping City can send the tie into extra time or penalties and hope that luck is on their side.
Next Fixtures:
Coca-Cola Championship:
28.10.2006: Hull City v Sunderland (3 p.m)
2-0 City … CMON TIGERS !!!! heh heh we have to start somewhere so why not here ?
2-1 To Watford, sorry guys
As always, we’ll be keeping you updated on the message board 100% football.
a mind bending . attacking and blustering against all the odds 3-1 to City……………… Come on the TIGERS!!
I hope we can get though tonight would give the players a lifted and maybe a chance of a big team away but we gota get passed Watford and it aint guna be easy.Im guna go for 0-0 and i think they win on pens.sorry!