Former Newcastle keeper Steve Harper is in line to replace Hull injury worry Allan McGregor, who has a groin injury. The Tigers are again without suspended striker Yannick Sagbo while deadline-day signing Gedo has yet to receive his visa. Cardiff could give a debut to new signing Peter Odemwingie, but they also have a goalkeeping headache. David Marshall injured his hip playing for Scotland midweek leaving Joe Lewis poised for a Premier League debut. MATCH PREVIEW This clash will have to go some to match the drama of their last meeting - the 2-2 draw that secured Hull's last-gasp promotion to the Premier League . Cardiff were able to bask in the glory of their already-confirmed Championship title in May. There'll be no such relaxation on Saturday with both sides no doubt fancying a crucial three points at the KC Stadium. Mark Lawrenson "If you had said that this would be a Premier League fixture in January, I'm sure both sides would have been delighted. Both sides have strengthened over the summer and will at least be competitive now this season. Steve Bruce will have earmarked this as a home win but Cardiff have got plenty about them." Two weeks ago, I commentated for Irish television on Cardiff's goalless draw against Everton, which took Malky Mackay's side onto four points from their opening three games of the season. It wasn't a classic by any means, but the manner of the win over Manchester City in their previous match isn't going to happen every week. Hull have scored only one goal in their three Premier League matches so far, but the quality of their performance at Manchester City last time out has been noted by many. Both have been busy in strengthening their squad - Hull with 11 signings and Cardiff eight. I've seen a lot of Cardiff's record signing Gary Medel playing for Chile, and he seems to have settled quickly to life in the Premier League. His encounter with Hull's Tom Huddlestone may well be the key to the result. Fraizer Campbell, after his excellent start to the season, will be sure to keep the Hull defence on full alert. Saturday's clash could yet be defined by the respective goalkeepers with Hull's Steve Harper, and Cardiff's Joe Lewis, on standby to deputise for Allan McGregor and David Marshall respectively. It's been quite a week for Harper. The former Newcastle man, 20 years at St James' Park before his summer move to Hull, had a testimonial on Wednesday night with all the proceeds going to different charities in the north-east. If McGregor is ruled out, Harper will not want for an incentive to be at his best - Hull travel to St James' next weekend. Dean Windass could be on the bench today after a long layoff. Head-to-head 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). The sides met on the final day of the 2012-13 season, when a 2-2 draw ultimately ensured Hull claimed the second automatic promotion spot behind Championship winners Cardiff. Hull City 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. They have won two of their last 16 Premier League games (W2, D3, L11). Cardiff City 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. WOL In the dugout: Malky Mackay and Steve Bruce Hull manager Steve Bruce believes today’s match with Cardiff is one both clubs will have highlighted as a must win at the start of the Premier League campaign. The last time the sides met at the KC Stadium was the final day of Championship season – a dramatic 2-2 draw capped by a tense period of injury-time that saw Hull miss a penalty and Cardiff score one. That result was still enough to send the Tigers up in second behind their title-winning opponents and both sides now share the goal of preserving their top flight status. Cardiff have already beaten Manchester City, while Hull impressed in patches against the same opponents just before the international break, but Bruce insists it is fixtures such as this that will define each side’s season. “It’s a big game for us, but I’m sure they’ll say the same. Cardiff came up with us and they’ll have put it down as one of their fixtures to get something from,” said Bruce. “Cardiff are a good side and they proved to be the best side in the Championship last year. Since then they’ve added to their squad well, spent a lot of money to improve and they’re going to make a big fist of it. “Talk about must-win games...it’s against opposition who you think will be around you at the end of the season. If you can turn those teams over it’s a big feather in your cap and can help you enormously. “We identified the first four or five home games. For any side in the bottom half it’s about ‘can you pick up the points at home?’ “But Cardiff won the Championship at a canter and they’ve added well. They’ll be difficult to beat but the way we have played so far has encouraged us.” Bruce is without summer signing Yannick Sagbo, who serves the last of a three-game suspension following his sending off against Norwich, meaning Danny Graham should get another chance to impress up front. As a centre-forward with Premier League experience Graham will be an important player in the coming weeks, with Hull having failed to secure a deadline-day deal for West Brom’s Shane Long. The club did manage to bring last year’s loan signing Gedo back on a season-long deal from Egyptian outfit Al Ahly, but he is still battling visa issues. Civil unrest in his home country means that process is far from straightforward. “The British Embassy is shut apparently, it is in a place where a lot of the trouble is so they have to send passports to Dubai then get them sent back somewhere,” said Bruce. “He’s trying desperately bless him, he’s trying to get his visa and you’re not allowed in without it. “The last I heard he was trying to get to Dubai himself to rush things up.” Asked if he had a clear idea of when to expect the striker, a rueful Bruce joked: “If we’ll see him by Christmas, I’m not so sure.” Meanwhile Malky Mackay has dismissed suggestions his Cardiff City side are favourites ahead of their trip to Hull in the Premier League today. After big home clashes which saw a shock win over Manchester City and a draw against Everton many are seeing the Bluebirds clash with the side who finished second behind them in the Championship last term as an easier encounter. But no-nonsense Mackay has halted such suggestions firmly in their tracks insisting the match-up with Steve Bruce’s Tigers, who did well themselves against Manchester City before losing 2-0 last time out, will be as difficult as any the top-flight has to offer. “I’m not sure that we are favourites,” said Mackay. “Maybe the top four or five in the division are favourites when they go away, but I don’t think anyone else in this league can be rated that way when they travel, particularly the new boys. “We won’t be favourites in any away game. “Both Hull and ourselves are new to the division of course, but I think Hull have started well. They’ve looked comfortable and I thought they were excellent against Manchester City. Steve Bruce is a good man, I look forward to seeing him and he’s done well with his team. “We know each other very well. We relish it, but we know how tough a task we are going to have going to their place. “We’ll just be approaching it in our normal fashion and approach it with the importance it deserves. It’s going to be tough.” Cardiff are sweating on the fitness of goalkeeper David Marshall, who picked up a hip problem playing for Scotland midweek. Back-up Joe Lewis is on stand-by. Central defender Steven Caulker is fit and ready to partner Ben Turner at the heart of defence. New signing Peter Odemwingie looks certain to be among the substitutes. Cardiff (probable): Marshall (or Lewis), Connolly, Caulker, Turner, Taylor, Medel, Gunnarsson, Whittingham, Bellamy, Kim, Campbell. Tonto says, could be three points today against a side in our sector of this division!
I just knew he'd do that! Still, even without Bellers, we've got Noone, Maynard, Gestede and Odem to come off the bench.
Cardiff: Lewis, Theophile-Catherine, Turner, Caulker, Taylor, Kim, Cowie, Gunnarsson, Medel, Whittingham, Campbell. Subs: Hudson, Odemwingie, Gestede, Noone, Mutch, Maynard, Moore.
Theophile-Catherine to start how the f!!! do you get that name on a shirt ?? gotta be T.C. our original Top Cat
Bellers not been at his best so far this season, I would have liked to see Odemwingie in instead Cowie.
Half time couldn't come fast enough at the end. Lewis is keeping us in the game & was in no way to blame for the goal. More meandering from the defence just like the WH game.
Quite impressed with Theo from the little I have seen of him today. Caulker pushing to far up at times. Ref almost ruined the 1st half, think Kim will need to try and stay upright a bit more and Campbell looking a behind the pace, although the stream I got has crashed a good few times today
I thought someone in the crowd had a pellet gun the way everyone was falling over holding various body parts.
