This is a game featuring two struggling sides although at the start of the season, very few people would have expected that. Preston, managed by Darren Ferguson, were tipped to have a successful season under the son of Sir Alex yet as it stands, the Lilywhites sit in 23rd position. Hull are not doing much better and despite playing Premiership football last year, the Tigers are sat just one place higher than their opponents in 22nd.
Preston look to be a side well and truly on the slide and following Tuesday night’s defeat to Barnsley, supporters of the Deepdale outfit are deeply unsatisfied with Darren Ferguson’s management. Many want to see the back of him and with just fourteen points accumulated after their sixteen games, it’s no wonder they’re frustrated. That’s not the only disappointing statistic with Lilywhites fans having to put up with ten defeats already as well as an avalanche of thirty three goals conceded. Both of those stats are the worst in the division and to make matters even worse if it were possible, they head into this one with just one win in seven. Their season was summed up perfectly on Tuesday evening when despite taking an early lead, a horrendous mix-up in the dying stages gifted three points to visiting Barnsley. Bearing all this in mind, Ferguson knows things have to improve for the sake of his job.
Hull meanwhile are having an equally torrid time. Their recent form is just marginally worse than their opponents with Nigel Pearson’s men recording just the one victory in their last eight. That gives them a return of fifteen points from their opening sixteen games – just one more than Preston. However, Tigers supporters may feel slightly optimistic for this one with their side showing that they’re at least hard to beat on the road having drawn their last three. What’s more, the KC Stadium outfit are the subject of a takeover bid and should that go through, their off the field worries should evaporate and Nigel Pearson should be able to reinforce his squad.
As for team news, it’s mixed news for the home side who look set to be without both Billy Jones and Josh King who are struggling with a virus and ankle problem respectively. However, having been illegible to play in their last game, Iain Hume is almost certain to be recalled to the starting line-up. Hull on the other hand will have plenty of injuries to contend with for this one with Craig Fagan, Paul McShane, Jimmy Bullard and Caleb Folan all on the treatment table. John Bostock is another absentee as he sits out through suspension, but Robert Koren could be included after he recovered from a hamstring problem.
In terms of a prediction, we’ll go with the away win. It’s hard to analyse a game with two sides in such poor form but with Hull at least having some half-decent results away from home, we think they could just come on top in a 2-1 victory.
0 comments:
Post a Comment