Out of the three promoted teams last season from the Championship, Hull City have enjoyed the best start. With experienced manager Steve Bruce at the helm Hull have picked up 7 points from their first 5 games in the Premier League, having lost only to Chelsea and Manchester City, in which both games were away from home.
On Saturday, Hull City Tigers welcome a visit from the Hammers. Hull have only kept 1 clean sheet in the Premier League so far this year and have conceded two in a game on three separate occasions (LLW).
West Ham are undefeated in their opening 2 away games thus far with both games ending 0-0. They sit in 15th place.
Last season the Hammers showed terrific home form and woeful away form. The target for this year was to improve the away form and picking up points and clean sheets is one way to go about it, however it is now the home form that is far from perfect (WLL).
Hull are off the back of a 3-2 away win at St. James’ Park in which they twice came from behind. The newly promoted side have managed to build a squad with plenty of Premier League experience with new signing Danny Graham, and Spurs midfield duo Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone. Midfielder Robbie Brady has been in fine form so far this season with 2 goals and an assist, but is a doubt for Saturday’s fixture, which would be good news for the Hammers. Sone Aluko showed excellent promise against Newcastle with a goal and an assist to his name.
Maynor Figueroa, Paul McShane, Robert Koren and James Chester are all unavailable through injuries. For West Ham, Alou Diarra, Andy Carroll remain out for long-term and Joe Cole will also not make an appearance back from injury just yet, Sam Allardyce confirmed that Stewart Downing will be available for selection. Guy Demel is also back in training but is unlikely to start against his half-brother Yannick Sagbo. Noble is likely to return after having been suspended for the mid-week cup win over Cardiff.
West Ham have a fantastic record against Hull, in the last six meetings the Hammers have lost just once and have managed 4 wins.
The Hammers have yet to score a single goal away from home and that hasn’t been from lack of creativity but a simple lack of finishing! If Modibo Maiga doesn’t start then Mladen Petric or even mid-week match winner Ricardo Vaz Te could step in and provide a much needed goal threat.
This is billed as a game not for the neutrals, but neither was last weeks 5 goal thriller with Everton.
Likely line-ups
West Ham
Jaaskelainen
O’Brien – Collins – Reid – Rat
Noble – Morrison
Diame – Nolan – Jarvis
Maiga
Hull City Tigers
McGregor
Rosenior – Davies – Bruce – Elmohamady
Aluko – Huddlestone – Livermore – Quinn
Sagbo – Graham
Sone Aluko matching up against Joey O’Brien may cause a few problems for the Irishman. The physical presence of Sagbo and Graham should prove relatively easy for James Collins and Winston Reid.
This match will be won and lost in the middle of the park as Huddlestone and Livermore attempt to keep the ball but will be outnumbered by West Ham’s vast midfield. If the Hammers midfield isn’t bypassed by the long ball then the midfield battle could be won.
If West Ham are to score in an away game before the return of Andy Carroll then this could be a good time to do so. I feel it is certainly time for Vaz or Petric to try their hand up top, but Maiga is most likely judging on the past 5 league games.
After the Everton game my prediction may seem worthless, and I’ve learnt to predict West Ham at your peril but what the heck, 1-1 score draw for me.
Excuse me, but I can’t see any Hull City Tigers on the fixture list. Do you mean Hull City? There’s that and the wish of the owner, which the PL and the FA haven’t accepted. Do try to get it as per official fixture list.