Stoke City vs Hull City: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at the Britannia Stadium

Joel Nathan Goldman
Saturday 29 March 2014 09:27 EDT
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Mark Hughes gives the thumbs up form the touchline
Mark Hughes gives the thumbs up form the touchline (GETTY IMAGES)

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Former team-mates Mark Hughes and Steve Bruce will come head to head this weekend as their Stoke and Hull sides battle it out at the Britannia. Stoke City will be looking to make it three consecutive wins on Saturday as boss Mark Hughes faces former teammate Steve Bruce’s Hull City side at the Britannia. After an impressive 4-1 win at Aston Villa last Sunday, the Potters will be looking to cement themselves in 10th place and push Hull further into relegation trouble.

Coming off the back of only their second away win of the season at Villa Park, Hughes’ men will get a welcome return to fortress Britannia, where they have only lost twice all season. Stoke have suffered just one defeat in their last eight games, a 1-0 loss to Manchester City and have won three of their last four matches, remaining unbeaten in March.

The Tigers last win at Stoke came way back in January 2006, however three of their last four trips to the Potteries has ended in a 1-1 draw.

Bruce’s side will be looking to build some momentum ahead of their trip to Wembley next month, however they will need to bounce back in the league first after their controversial 2-1 loss against West Ham in midweek and enter the fixture with a run of three defeats in their last four league games.

Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam is back in contention after serving his three match ban, but Jonathan Walters will serve the last game of his suspension after seeing red against Norwich earlier this month. Another welcome boost is the return of Stephen Ireland after being ineligible to face his former club Aston Villa.

January signings Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long are likely to lead the line for Hull, who will be without suspended goalkeeper Alan McGregor after his controversial red card at Upton Park on Wednesday. The Scottish goalkeeper injured himself in that incident and would miss this fixture regardless of the suspension.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Hull 0 Stoke 0, Premier League, December 2013

Stoke 2 (Fuller, Lawrence), Premier League, April 2010

Hull 2 (Olofinjana, Hesselink), Hull 1 (Etherington), Premier League, November 2009

STATS…

This will be only the sixth meeting between the two sides in the Premier League. (Stoke 2, Hull 1, Draws 2).

Stoke are unbeaten in March and have lost just once in eight games.

Stoke have only lost two home games all season (Liverpool and Norwich) and are sixth in the home form table.

ODDS…

Stoke City to win: 2.2

Hull City to win: 3.9

Draw: 3.35

TV: Highlights on BBC 1 at 10.30pm.

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