Hull Cautious Ahead Of Visit From Eagles

Hull City host Crystal Palace at the KC Stadium tomorrow (4th October) on the back of what has been a pretty torrid run of form for the North-East side. Last Saturday`s 4-2 drubbing at home to champions Manchester City was the club`s fifth straight result without a win in all competitions. An Eliaquim Mangala own goal preceded a successfully converted Abel Hernandez penalty to level the score in the first half after early City goals from Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko put Manuel Pellegrini`s title favourites in front. It was down to Bosnian Dzeko to see the score at 3-2 against the Tigers before Frank Lampard grabbed his fourth goal in three games in the closing minutes. Steve Bruce`s men will be buoyed knowing that they have scored two goals in each of their last four games and are yet to end a match goalless during their first six Premier League fixtures. Betvictor are offering odds of 3/1 on the high-scorers netting exactly twice again tomorrow, whilst betfair has 11/2 on the home side scoring two or more against a Palace team that have conceded ten in their opening games.

Under the stewardship of new manager Neil Warnock, the Eagles have seen themselves rise to ninth in the top tier of English football and without a loss in the Yorkshireman`s four league games in charge. A bore draw at home to new-boys Burnley followed a frantic 3-3 tie away at lowly Newcastle. A last-gasp goal from Wilfried Zaha making sure that Dwight Gayle`s and Jason Puncheon`s contributions weren`t in vain. Another three goals were netted against European hopefuls Everton as Warnock`s men bounced back from being 1-0 behind to secure all three points away at Goodison Park whilst last week saw two goals scored against Leicester City without reply. Potent forward Frazier Campbell and captain Mile Jedinak have both scored two in two and are 4/1 (Betvictor) and 8/1 (betfair, Betvictor, paddy Power) respectively to add a third to their seasonal tallies at any time tomorrow.

Despite being two points and seven places to the good over their opponents, Palace are the 3/1 (boylesports, ladbrokes) outsiders to grab their third victory on the trot. Hull have only earned two points from the three games they have played at home but are the 23/20 (Betvictor, Matchbook) favourites to make it five from four. A draw is currently priced at 5/2 with bet365 and boylesports.

Sixteenth placed Hull will have to rely on their Capital One Cup goalkeeper Steve Harper after number one Allan McGregor failed to recover from a recurring shoulder issue. Experienced 39-year-old Harper kept seven clean sheets when called upon last year and is 8/5 (Spreadex) to mark his return to the starting line up with another tomorrow. Betvictor have Hull as 5/2 to win to nil. The former Newcastle shot-stopper did concede two late efforts in the last three minutes of normal time to see his side knocked out of the Capital One Cup away at West Bromwich Albion.

McGregor is the only injury concern for Bruce with midfielder David Meyler set to return to the first team following a long-term back injury. Deadline day transfers Hatem Ben Arfa and Gaston Ramirez could start for the first time in orange and black.

Warnock is similarly free of enforced outfield changes with both Marouane Chamakh and Stuart O`Keefe available for selection. Moroccan Chamakh has been out for just over a month with a hamstring problem whilst O`Keefe hasn`t troubled the starting line up since picking up an ankle injury in their 3-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham.

Go To bet365

#Ad

03/10/2014     © Frixo 2026