Hull City began life in the Premier League with a bang. Victories against Arsenal at the Emirates and Tottenham at White Hart Lane made everyone around the world sit up and take notice of this new team who upset the odds. Fast forward to today and Hull are struggling. Two victories all year mean that fans are beginning to wonder whether their side will avoid relegation this year after staying up by the skin of their teeth last time around.
Despite making a few promising signings in the summer, manager Phil Brown knows that his side have a battle in front of them if they are to regain their Premier League status once again. Former Wigan favourite Kevin Kilbane is expected to face his former club but another old and familiar face, Jimmy Bullard is not yet match fit after suffering from yet more injury problems. How ironic it is that whilst playing for Wigan, the energetic midfielder was rarely injured and set the club record for consecutive appearances. After moving on to Fulham, the troubles began. Although an England call up was a big highlight, Bullard’s return to the Hull side will give everyone at the club a lift in the way Jimmy knows best, comedy.
Wigan Team News
Roberto Martinez is expected to field an unchanged line up to the side which swept aside Chelsea 3-1 with Paul Scharner and Jason Scotland starting once again. Scott Sinclair is available after being ineligible to play last week. Olivier Kapo will be pushing for a place on the bench after returning from injury.
Wigan Predicted Line Up
Kirkland
Melchiot Boyce Bramble Figueroa
Thomas Diame
N’Zogbia Scharner Rodallega
Scotland
What the Manager thinks
"From these kind of results and performances you get a lot of confidence, but we have got a very level-headed squad. We never over-react after defeat and we never over-react after a victory, Martinez told Sky Sports News
"The players know they have been working extremely hard to be able to compete with players from the top four.
"In many aspects we had been showing that that kind of performance was coming. It's about hard work and making sure you are working as a team and I think that we can compete against the top four.
"It has been a problem in the past, 34 games without beating one of the top four in the Premier League, and that tells us that it was about much more than football aspects.
"We are delighted that at the moment we can now say that we have beaten one of the top four."
Key Players for Hull City
Geovanni – Signed a new deal with the club recently, Geovanni pulls the strings from midfield and can produce something special once in a while. Will have to perform if the club are to survive this year.
Stephen Hunt – Joined from Reading in the summer and has become a firm favourite on the Hull left hand side. Has already scored a few goals and has got a terrific left foot.
Jozy Altidore – Another summer signing, Altidore is on a season long loan at Hull from Villarreal and despite his young age, is one of the brightest talents to come out of America. Altidore is quick and once he finds his feet, He should be amongst the goals in the division.
WIGANER.net Prediction
A completely different game than the one faced last week. Hull will come straight out and challenge for every ball. Phil Brown will have his side motivated for this one and if Wigan can get a foothold in the game early on, 3 points could be achieved. The more expectant result will be a draw though as it is a game that Hull will see as a game they cannot afford to lose.
HCFC 1-1 WAFC
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