Hull City match preview

Barclays Premier League
Hull City v West Ham United
Kingston Communications Stadium
Sunday 19 October
3pm
Referee: Chris Foy
WHUTV - Full audio commentary

Introduction

* West Ham United travel to Hull City for their fourth away fixture of the 2008/09 Barclays Premier League season - the first meeting between the sides for 17 years. An away win would move the club up to fourth while victory for Hull would see them regain third place after Saturday's fixtures dropped them to sixth.

* United go into the game with a mixed run of form of late. Having secured their first away win of the season with a 2-1 victory at Fulham on 27 September, the side then lost their 100 per cent home record by losing at home to Bolton Wanderers in the following match - Gianfranco Zola's first league defeat as manager.

* Those results turned the side's form on its head as they had won their first three matches at the Boleyn Ground but lost two out of two on their travels.

* After Saturday's games, West Ham United are eighth in the Barclays Premier League with four wins and three defeats and a goal difference of plus one. Hull City, having just been promoted from the Championship, have impressed everyone with wins at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in their previous two games.

* West Ham United striker Carlton Cole said: "We know they [Hull City] are a good outfit, but we just have to go there confident in trying to break them down and get as much out of the game as possible. They have got a good work ethic about them but we know we have to work hard and use our quality and get a good result."

* Speaking to the club's official website, midfielder Dean Marney said: "It's a game to look forward to. It's against another London team so hopefully we can make it three out of three. But we know it will be tough because they are a good team, although we go into the game full of confidence."

* The last meeting between the sides was a 0-0 draw at Hull's former home, Boothferry Park, on 23 March 1991 in the old Second Division. In the reverse fixture at the Boleyn Ground that season, West Ham United won 7-1. If the scoreline was not memorable enough the game will be remembered for the fact that Steve Potts scored his only ever goal for the club - a 30-yard drive just after the half-hour mark.

* The teams met each other for two consecutive years in the old second division in the 1989/90 and 1990/91 seasons with honours all square at one win each and two draws.

* The last time United won in Hull was over 50 years ago in the 1954/55 season.

* The guests will be hoping to keep their first clean sheet after a run of 19 matches since their last at Fulham in February.

* If Cole finds the net again, it would be his third consecutive goalscoring game.

* If Hayden Mullins is selected it would be his 200th appearance in a claret and clue shirt. If Matthew Etherington starts, it would be his 150th league start for the club.

* West Ham United are next in top-flight action a week after the Hull City game when they host Arsenal on Sunday 26 October. Hull's next game is a trip to West Bromwich Albion the previous day.

Last time out:
Sunday 5 October - West Ham United 1-3 Bolton Wanderers
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Neill, Upson, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Noble, Di Michele (Bellamy 54), Etherington (Sears 79), Cole
Subs not used: Lastuvka, Lopez, Boa Morte, Mullins, Davenport
Goal: Cole 69

Sunday 5 October - Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Hull City
Hull City:
Myhill, McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Marney, Ashbee, Boateng, Geovanni (Halmosi 71), King (Folan 81), Cousin (Mendy 60)
Subs not Used: Hughes, Duke, Garcia, Ricketts
Goal: Geovanni

Team news

* New signing Diego Tristan will not feature although Zola has been impressed with his progress in training. Competition for attacking places is fierce with Craig Bellamy and Freddie Sears also pushing for a place in the starting XI.

* Zola has seen all of his international stars return free of injury following the recent break from league action. Robert Green has overcome the slight knee problem on England duty, while Bellamy and James Collins have benefited from a tough 90 minutes with Wales in Germany. Valon Behrami also impressed as Switzerland won in Athens and Herita Ilunga and Lucas Neill also came back from DR Congo and Australia commitments unscathed.

* Jack Collison proved his fitness by playing in both legs of Wales Under-21s narrow defeat by an England featuring Mark Noble. Another midfielder in contention is Lee Bowyer, who has been training fully.

* James Tomkins is in full training, while Danny Gabbidon and Kieron Dyer are continuing to progress well. Jonathan Spector is due back at the club before the end of the month while Dean Ashton has been back at Chadwell Heath this week although will not play again before the New Year with his ankle injury.

* Hull City have concerns over key striker Marlon King (back) with Caleb Folan standing by. Defender Anthony Gardner is over a thigh problem but Stelios Giannakopoulos may not be fit enough to take part. 

Background

* The last meeting of the clubs was a 0-0 draw at Boothferry Park on 23 March 1991.

* The lineups were:
West Ham United: Miklosko, Potts, Parris, Gale, Foster, Hughton, Bishop, McAvennie, Dowie, Keen, Allen

Hull City: Butler, Norton, Thompson, Buckley, Mail, Shotton, Hockaday, Peyton, Swan, Atkinson, Warren, Jenkinson

* Noble returns to the club he played five times for during a loan spell between February and May 2006.

* West Ham United academy graduate Richard Garcia could figure against the club he made 23 appearances for.

Head to head (last six meetings, league unless stated)

23 March 1991 - Hull City 0-0 West Ham United
6 October 1990 - West Ham United 7-1 Hull City
20 January 1990 - West Ham United 1-2 Hull City
2 February 1989 - Hull City 1-1 West Ham United
3 February 1973 - Hull City 1-0 West Ham United (FA Cup)
9 September 1970 - West Ham United 1-0 Hull City (League Cup)

Overall record v Hull City (all competitions): W 13, D 13, L 9

Barclays Premier League fixtures

Sunday, 19 October 2008
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur (4pm)

General information
Tickets are now sold out for this game. For details of getting to the Kingston Communications Stadium click here
 
Weather: The forecast is for a sunny day with slight cloud and a top temperature of around 15C.