please log in to view this image vs. please log in to view this image Saturday 14th September 2013 Barclays Premier League Match KC Stadium, Hull please log in to view this image Form Guide (Premier League): Hull City: L, W, L Cardiff City: L, W, D Hull City A very convincing start to life in the Premier League for Steve Bruce's men with 3 points from the first 3 games although 2 were away at both Stamford Bridge and the Etihad Stadium respectively. A home win against Norwich (with 10 men) was just what the side needed to get kick-started and all 3 games, the performances have been exemplary. There is still one niggling factor in the Hull City cogs; and that is that the side are yet to score from open play and worries of the current forwards not having what it takes to earn the Club survival have began to circulate. Considering the strength of the opposition, many would say it's naive to begin to criticise the forwards and I for one, agree. This is a great chance to take another 3 points, as home form against the teams you expect to be relegation rivals throughout the Season is vital to whether you retain Premier League status again next Season. Faye and Aluko are set to be fit to face Cardiff should they be needed and this is the last match of Yannick Sagbo's 3 match suspension. The defence has looked solid, the attack has looked fluid, our Season starts now and let's get behind the lads! Cardiff City Another convincing start from a newly-Promoted Club has seen Cardiff take 4 points from the opening 3 games, including a win over Manchester City and a draw with Everton. Cardiff have also taken an attacking approach to matches as opposed to the usual "park the bus" tactics that Clubs normally use against much stronger opposition. McKay has spent big this Summer with some big price tags quoted and obvious desire from the owners to remain a top-flight Club and ultimately better their Welsh rivals Swansea City. This game shouldn't be filled with as much drama as the final fixture of last Season though the sheer range of emotions on that day will still be remembered by both sets of fans. Cardiff will be coming to the Circle also optimistic of 3 points and will be a tough test for the home side. Interesting Facts - Cardiff have won four of their last seven games against Hull. - However, the Bluebirds have claimed victory in just one of their previous seven away games against the Tigers (a 2-0 win in February 2011). - Including last season, Hull have failed to score in five of their previous seven league games (W1, D2, L4). - The Tigers are looking to win back-to-back home games in the top flight for the first time. - The Bluebirds have drawn seven of their last 10 league games. - Having drawn 0-0 with Everton last time out, they have the chance to record back-to-back clean sheets in the top flight for the first time since April 1957. - The Bluebirds kept 18 clean sheets last season - the most in the Championship, ahead of Brighton (17) and Hull (16).
Ref. Robert Madley newly promoted to the PL list. This game will be his first PL match in charge. No pressure then. Lol. Good Luck Mr Madley.
Great preview as always Candy. I'm going for 2-1 'ull. [video=youtube;ucKaxnu3tl8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucKaxnu3tl8&feature=youtu.be[/video]
Probably wouldn't do to give him something like a Man U or Chelsea game first off. Better to ease him in with a game between a couple of promoted "also rans" in the Prem who are both bound to go back down this season.
Really important game for both teams. To survive these are crucial, really tough one to call. Score draw for me.
we'll win, and i think you'll go down, i'd be surprised if you score more than 40 goals by the end of the season, if your answer to your goalscoring problems is danny graham then good luck...........
All the **** going on today forget we have a game tomorrow. Good write up Candy. Tough call, Im ignoring the nob above, think FC will trouble us again. So i'm going for 2-1 to us. We've looked good against teams we didnt appear to have a chance against and a battling performance against ten men. So this one is the acid test. Think it is a must win for our development and confidence. Need Hudd to dominate the midfield and DG/Aluko to stick the chances away. We should create more chances against Cardiff, so we need to be clinical.
I see on Twitter it is FC's birthday today, and they have been stuck at Cardiff airport as the flight has been delayed. Let's hope that upsets their rhythm.
Does it feel like years since City's last game, anyone? It does to me! (And all those O/T threads......)
Cracking preview as always Candy. I think it'll be a close game and the midfield battle will be key. Hopefully Graham will get his first goal to set him going after going very close at Man City. On the evidence of the first 3 performances, both sides can expect to be in the top flight next year.
I think we've both shown enough to say we won't be another Derby. Long way to go yet and goals have looked an issue for both of us already. Being honest neither side was exactly full of goals last season either. We have both got the other end of the pitch totally sorted though and like last year hopefully that'll take the pressure of the attacking side of things a little. Today is too close to call IMO and I really won't be surprised with any of the 3 possible outcomes at full time. I think do think we'll nick it but that's just the biased bluebird in me talking..
I am so looking forward to the game, really excited and just hope we can score early and keep Campbell quiet.
Just seen some of the players in their hotel, everyone left in tracksuits except for McGregor, Sagbo and Graham who each left in a suit.
I thought that, until I saw Graham in one. So I'm not too sure, Harper is the master of understudies though.
