Saturday 22 October 2016 14:21, UK
Hull City take on Stoke City on Saturday at the KCOM Stadium and will be looking to end a run of four straight defeats.
Recently confirmed Hull boss Mike Phelen will not want the tag of being the first Hull manager since 2012 to lose five successive league games, especially so early into his reign.
Stoke secured their first Premier League win of the season against Sunderland last week. Mark Hughes' men are now unbeaten in three games as they look to move out of the relegation spots.
Hull City have captain Michael Dawson available for the first time this season after recovering from a knee injury.
Andy Robertson (calf) and Moses Odubajo (knee) are both long-term absentees. Phelen has said that either Josh Tymon or Sam Clucas will play at full-back in Robertson's absence.
Hughes will check on the fitness of Phil Bardsley ahead of the game.
A hamstring injury saw Bardsley substituted against Sunderland and he has not trained this week. However, Hughes hopes the 31-year-old will train on Friday after having an injection in his lower back to help ease the problem.
With Glen Johnson ruled out for at least three to four weeks because of a thigh injury it would leave Hughes with a problem at right-back should Bardsley not be fit.
Hull City have won just one of their previous eight Premier League games against Stoke (D3 L4).
Stoke have conceded just once in their last five Premier League games against the Tigers.
These sides have already met in the League Cup this season with Marcus Henriksen scoring a 90th minute winner for Hull in a 2-1 win.
The last four Premier League games between these two have seen just four goals scored.
Hughes has never lost a Premier League game against Hull as a manager, winning three and drawing four (two wins and two draws as Stoke manager).
Hull have lost their last four Premier League games, conceding 17 times in the process (4.25 per game). They last lost more successively in the top-flight in March 2010 (5).
Stoke's victory over Sunderland ended their winless run this season (D3 L4). They last won back-to-back games in the Premier League in March (three in a row).
Joe Allen has scored in three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in his career. No Stoke player has scored in four Premier League games in a row.
Hull have faced at least 30 more shots (inc blocks) than any other Premier League side this season (184 in total).
Phelan and Hughes played in 13 Premier League games together for Man Utd, with the last of these coming in November 1993. They both started the European Cup Winners' Cup Final in 1991 in which Hughes scored twice.
I watched Hull last week, and there are ways to lose football matches... they were well beaten by Bournemouth.
In a game where you're looking at the opposition and thinking: "Don't lose to these teams, they're going to be around us at the end of the season" they were blown away.
I think Stoke are a decent team, and Hull really have to buck their ideas up after last week. I think they'll have to score first.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Sky Bet make Stoke the 7/5 favourites to make it back-to-back Premier League wins when they travel to Hull on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers can be supported at 19/10 to end a three-match losing run with victory and the draw is priced up at 23/10.
Stoke midfielder Allen has scored three goals in his last two appearances and he's a 9/1 option in Sky Bet's first goalscorer odds. Potters forward Marko Arnautovic is the 11/2 favourite to net first and Hull duo Robert Snodgrass and Abel Hernandez are both available to back at 6/1.
Hull v Stoke is included in this week's Soccer Saturday Super 6 line-up. Enter your predictions here for the chance to win £250,000.
