Only 1 loss in 9, sitting 8th in the current form table (which takes into account the last 6 games), and yet Blues still find themselves sitting in 16th place, a position which can mostly be blamed on home form. Fortunately for Blues, they’ve been more successful in picking up points away from home and tomorrow will represent another chance to see them continue that form, with their visit to the KC Stadium.
Team News
As normal, long-term absentees Carr, Murphy, and Packwood will once again miss out and unfortunately. Marlon King looks set to miss out again, as his knee injury appears to be worse than was first thought “Marlon won’t be available for the weekend, the medical department are in discussions now with how we can progress it. Our club doctor and medical team will discuss it with specialists and see what’s needed and when we can get him back”. Keith Fahey still isn’t quite ready for his return to Blues first-team action, but will appear for the Development Squad against Crewe on Monday. “He has looked very fit and has been really good with the technical stuff. We are going to play him in part of the game on Monday”. Mitch Hancox will have a late fitness test and could miss out with a thigh strain. Lee Clark said “Mitchell has picked up a little bit of tightness in his thigh,” “He did part of the training session on Thursday, but not all of it as a precaution. We’re hopeful that he will be all right. I will have to see how he is and make sure I’m 100 per cent certain in my own mind that he is okay, because I’d be devastated if we put him on the pitch and he then pulled a thigh muscle and was out for the season.” Of course Rob Hall will not be available, after returning to West Ham on Wednesday evening to have his groin assessed.
Meanwhile, tomorrows hosts will be without Sone Aluko, who continues his absence through an Achilles injury. However, Paul Mc Shane & Abdoulaye Faye could return to a defence that have conceded just 5 times in their last 3 away games, after they both trained on Thursday. Steve Bruce said “I had a word with both of them afterwards and they seemed ok, so we’ll see what they’re like on Friday. But it was the first time they’ve trained for the best part of two or three weeks.”
Head-To-Head
Blues hold the upper hand against Hull in the head to head, and regardless of what happens at the KC Stadium at the weekend, that won’t be changing any time soon. Of the 57 games that the two teams have featured in, Blues have won 23, with Hull winning as many as they have drawn, 17.
Blues 23
Drawn 17
Hull 17
Blues Team
I’m fairly certain that Clark will go with a 451/433 formation to combat the 352 that Hull have impressively used this season and a formation that Blues have struggled with when coming up against it.
Assuming Hancox passes his fitness test, I’d foresee one of the forwards making way, with Elliott moving inside and most likely new recruit Ferguson making the extra body in midfield, out on the left side.
Butland, Caddis, Davies, Caldwell, Hancox, Burke, Spector, Reilly, Elliott, Ferguson, Zigic
TiltonStrugglers 