Everton boss Ronald Koeman expects Hull City to pose tough challenge
Thursday 29 December 2016 11:34, UK
Ronald Koeman expects Hull City will provide Everton with a stern test when they meet in the Premier League on Friday Night Football.
Hull go into the fixture sitting bottom of the table, having won just one of their last 16 Premier League games and they are on a run of three successive defeats.
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However, Koeman was impressed by what he saw from the Tigers in their defeats to West Ham and Manchester City, although he accepts his side are favourites for the game at the KCOM Stadium.
"Yes, but that's the most dangerous thing you can do in football, because we know the Premier League is unpredictable," the Everton manager said.
"Maybe you expect a win, and then it will be totally different.
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"I don't look to the classification, the position in the table, because I watched Hull against Manchester City. After 70 minutes it was still 0-0 and City were not creating a lot of chances.
"Also, Hull lost the game at West Ham 1-0 but they were the better team and hit the post several times.
"So don't focus on positions in the table. It's a tough one, a difficult one and we need to be at our best to get a good result."
Everton are seventh in the league after their 2-0 victory at Leicester on Boxing Day - their first away win since September which also halted a run of four straight defeats on the road.
Koeman has no doubt how important that was for his players ahead of the Hull match, in which he wants them to go about their work the same way as they did in the second half on Monday when they scored both goals.
"Of course, it's always difficult if you're not winning away or you don't have those kind of performances to be happy - then you need to break it," Koeman said.
"The win was good - the way we played in the second half, the way we controlled the game. We need the same attitude on Friday."
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