Hull City continue their fight for survival as Grant McCann’s Tigers host Stoke City at MKM Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship.
Hull will stay 19th with victory and move 12 points clear of the relegation zone, whereas a win would lift Stoke up to eighth in the standings.
Team News
Andy Cannon is ruled out for Hull after suffering an ankle injury in training.
Callum Elder (groin), Mallik Wilks (ankle), Lewis Coyle (ankle) and Alfie Jones (hamstring) remain absent.
Stoke Assistant Manager – Dean Holden could hand recalls to several players including Adam Davies and Danny Batth after they were rested in their FA Cup win over Leyton Orient.
Josef Bursik (quad), Romaine Sawyers (muscle), Jordan Thompson, Harry Souttar (both knee) and Nick Powell (leg) are absent.
Stat Attack
- Hull have won just two of their last five meetings against Stoke (W2, L3).
- Stoke have won just one of their last six trips to Hull (W1, D2, L3).
- Hull have scored twice in their last two home matches against Stoke, which the Tigers went on to win on both occasions (W2).
- Ryan Longman has scored once in each of Hull’s last three home games in all competitions (W1, D1, L1).
- Stoke have kept three clean sheets in their last four away matches (W3, L1).
Prediction
Although they were on the losing end of a tight FA Cup encounter against Everton last weekend, Hull can take plenty of positives because they did frustrate the Toffees repeatedly even after falling behind following their first minute lead.
Stoke meanwhile rested several regulars against Leyton Orient last weekend so should be back at full-strength, although their form has been poor with various mistakes costing them results in several tight contests.
This game therefore feels like a must-win at both ends of the table so I am expecting Hull to come out fighting especially off the back of a positive performance, whereas Stoke need to refocus and cut out their errors which could be the difference.
Prediction: Hull 1-1 Stoke
Result: Hull 0-2 Stoke