Hull City

Derby County

Manager: Nigel Clough
Key Player: Kris Commons

The Rams endured a pretty miserable 2009/2010 Championship campaign when finishing down in 14th position. It wasn’t that long ago that Derby were living the A-list lifestyle in the Premier League, now they’re struggling to even remain competitive in England’s second tier. Promotion is always the objective at the start of the season and yet the last two campaigns have resulted in Derby County finishing nearer the bottom of the table than top. They were 18th in 2008/2009 and 14th last term, so surely it’s too big a gap to bridge for Nigel Clough’s men?

Too many losses have cost Derby dear and for the second season running they notched up 20 defeats in a single campaign. That simply isn’t good enough, not for a club the size of Derby County. There has been many comings and goings since the close of last season and Nigel Clough will be praying he’s recruited the right individuals, those not only loyal and committed to their cause but with the ability to propel the Rams further up the table. Tomasz Cywka and David Martin have been brought in from the Premiership, while Clough has clearly seen something special in Alexandra pair James Bailey and John Crawford. We haven’t been at all impressed with their new arrivals and that spells bad news for County fans. The club is in desperate need of some fresh blood and yet they’re stuck with some golden oldies to lift them out of the slump they’re in. Robbie Savage maybe a dogged individual, willing to head into battle no matter who the opposition, but he’s not getting any younger and even at his peak wouldn’t win games of football. And yet Savage was arguably their best player last season which just about says all you need to know about their current state of affairs.

A lack of signings will surely lead to disgruntled fans. The Pride Park faithful are desperate to see their team challenging for promotion once again but that just doesn’t seem possible right now. Granted they have some passionate individuals at the club, none more so than manager Nigel Clough and club captain Robbie Savage, but there’s a distinct lack of quality at Derby County right now and unless they can find another gear from somewhere, it’ll be another season of strife and disappointment I’m afraid.

To Be Promoted: 12/1 Boylesports
To Be Relegated: 7/1 Bet365

Doncaster Rovers

Manager: Sean O’Driscoll
Key Player: Billy Sharp

Sean O’Driscoll has performed remarkably well working on a shoestring budget at Doncaster. He wasn’t far off guiding the club to the lottery of the play-off’s last season, with Rovers ending up just ten points shy of sixth placed Blackpool. Donny proved a difficult opponent for some, but they were prone to drawing far too many games and had they converted even a small proportion of their stalemates into wins, the play-off’s would have been a genuine possibility. Instead, the draws held them back from progressing and you do fear that Doncaster have let their golden opportunity pass them by somewhat as they’ll have to go some to even match their 12th place finish from last season let alone mount a challenge for a top-six finish.

The objective last season was merely to remain in the division, to which they passed with flying colours. However, with that 12th place under their belts, fans will have high hopes for another above par season in the Championship. Doncaster doesn’t have the most attractive of squads in terms of quality players but they work so well and so effectively as a team that results just seem to come naturally. If they could somehow match their efforts of last season, and go that extra mile and convert the draws into wins, Doncaster could be the next Blackpool by defying all the gigantic odds stacked against them by gaining promotion to the Premier League. After last season heroics, there’s no reason why they can’t produce something special in 2010/2011.

Doncaster Rovers were one of the surprise of last season and had it not been for Blackpool’s scintillating form during the season and heroic effort during the play-off final, Doncaster would arguably have been the team of the division after coming so close to a top-ten finish. Sean O’Driscoll has spiced things up a little with the addition of Billy Sharp, who was on loan at Doncaster last season and enjoyed a fantastic season after scoring 15 goals in 33 games. Midfielders Simon Gillett and Josh Payne, and defender George Friend, are the other summer recruits. All three should have the raw materials to make an impact at the Keepmoat this season, with all three still maturing, but it’s going to be the form of the veterans which will be key. Neil Sullivan, Adam Lockwood, James Hayter and James Coppinger all need another huge campaign if Donny are to go close or even better their previous finish of 12th.

To Be Promoted: 20/1 Coral
To Be Relegated: 7/1 SkyBet

Hull City

Manager: Ian Dowie
Key Player: Andy Dawson

The Tigers are in serious trouble of falling way down the pecking order in English football, with their stars having departed weeks ago and manager Iain Dowie being left to pick up the piece and to inspire a bunch of misfits. Hull City seemingly went all out on attempting to gain some stable footing in the Premier League but handing out large wage packets to players which were overrated and, to put it bluntly, rubbish! They’ve paid a heavy price, starting with relegation last season followed by the club no longer having the capacity to retain those stars they paid so lucratively to join their cause. So despite the drop down in grade from the Premiership, we don’t see Hull City challenging for promotion this season.

Promotion will nevertheless be the target for the team and Ian Dowie, but that’s asking a lot. A whole host, and we mean a host, have left the club over the summer including Geovanni, who so often proved the winner in the few games Hull did manage to win in the Premier League, Boaz Myhill, George Boateng, Jan Vennegor Hesselink, Dean Marney, Stephen Hunt and Bernard Mendy are among the names to have escaped Hull during the summer, while their biggest name of them all, Jimmy Bullard, whose reportedly receiving a handsome weekly wage, is desperate for a move away from the KC but has found his ridiculous wage demands a stumbling block. Fans will be praying Bullard stays at the club as he will win them matches this season, as he has that bit of guile and class which could aid Hull in a charge up the table. The club, though, are desperate to get rid of him and yet without him Hull are nothing but a team of golden oldies. Did we also forget to highlight how Boaz Myhill, who was superb at times for Hull against Premiership opposition, has also evaded Ian Dowie leaving Matt Duke, a keeper which has spent almost his entire career warming the bench for a variety of clubs, as the clubs No. 1 keeper. It’s nightmare material this.

There’s players in this Hull City team which will appreciated the drop down here, those like Andy Dawson, Nick Barmby, Criag Fagam, caleb Folan, Kevin Kilbane and Peter Halmosi, who either couldn’t get into the team when Hull were in the Premier League or were simply found wanting when given the chance. There are many more we could mention. In fairness, there is a Championship feel to this Hull side, one full of experience and players which will know exactly how ruthless this league has become in recent years. There is, however, a lack of raw pace and enthusiasm that the youngsters these days provide and unless Dowie can somehow persuade the board to allow him to bring in a couple of loan signings before the close of the windoe, Hull may well struggle to meet the demands of the fans which is a quick return back to the Premier League.

To Be Promoted: 13/2 Bet365
To Be Relegated: 8/1 Ladbrokes

Ipswich Town

Manager: Roy Keane
Key Player: Lee Martin

The Ipswich board have taken a gamble on Roy Keane, not least because of his temperament but following on from his rather sudden and unexpected resignation from Sunderland a couple of seasons ago. However, it’s been clear for sometime now that Keane loves a challenge and that perhaps he got more than he bargained for last season. He, as well as the players, are a year better off now and will have learnt a lot from that rather dire campaign, so we can all expect far better from the Tractor Boys this season. Promotion will be the goal, with anything less probably resulting in Roy Keane being sacked in all honesty, but they are capable of performing such an act should they establish a decent run of form.

Roy Keane has made his opinion on last seasons flop perfectly clear with wholesale changes he’s made over the summer. There won’t be too many débutantes on the beginning of the season but there’s a number from last season which won’t feature at all for the club season. Richard Wright, Ben Thatcher, Liam Trotter and Kevin Lisbie were all sent packing over the summer, with Mark Kennedy about the only new addition. We understand that there’s talent in this Ipswich team in the form of Tamas Priskin, Lee Martin and Carlos Edwards, but the club were desperate for reinforcements especially in the forward areas where captain Johnathan Walters and Johnathan Stead simply didn’t score enough last season and don’t have anything of real note which will frighten defenders. Granted they’re tall and bulky, well Walters anyway, but the pair lack any sort of agility and have next to no pace. Surely Keane will add to his striking options before the transfer window closes as he cannot be relying upon these two for regular goals this season.

A smart move by Keane was replacing Richard Wright with Martin Fulop, as the former Sunderland No. 2 is a worthy No. 1 for any Championship side and he’ll serve them well we believe this season. Grant Leadbitter isn’t the most exciting of players but he does bring some spirit and his combative qualities to the fore, while it’s Lee Martin’s who likely to wow the fans this season down the flanks. Tamas Priskin was sent out on loan last season, while Pablo Counago has been seeking a move for some time now, but the former must start more often for Ipswich this season as they were too predictable last term. Ipswich don’t want to fall into the trap of being all about wingers and crosses, and it becomes all too familiar and eays to read. They need something different and while Priskin clearly isn’t a favourite with Keane, he’s about the only thing different they have. Connor Wickham, one of their rising young stars, could fill the void quiet nicely but at 17 years of age still lacks the experience and nous to regularly get in amongst the goals at this level.

To be Promoted: 11/2 SkyBet
To Be Relegated: 16/1 Coral

Leeds United

Manager: Simon Grayson
Key Player: Bradley Johnson

Many will say Leeds United are back where they belong in the Championship, but fans will say the Premiership is where this passionate and dedicated club should be. They left it late and ran it close but Leeds secured promotion last season via the second automatic position by virtue of a final day victory over Bristol Rovers at an atmospheric Elland Road. Fans were over the mood with the clubs achievement but they won’t settle for a cosy finish now that they’ve returned the second tier. Fans on the quiet will be touting their side for promotion success this season and they genuinely believe they have the right man at the helm to take them to such heights in Simon Grayson.

The expected happened over the summer and that was Jermaine Beckford’s departure from Elland Road. Beckford sealed a switch to the Premiership with Everton over the summer but Grayson brought in Sanchez Wyatt on loan as a direct replacement after the Arsenal forward impressed last season while on loan at the club. As well as Wyatt, the pacey Llyod Sam arrives adding some width and flair to Leeds’ already rather frantic and all-out-attacking style of play, while Grayson pinning his hopes of Billy Paynter hitting the sort of form which seen him find the back of the net 26 times in League One last season for Swindon – 4 coming against Leeds. Paul Connelly arrives from Derby to bolster Leeds’ defensive options but it’s the capture of former Notts County goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel which could prove a shrewd piece of business. Son of the great Peter Schmeichel, Kasper is in the mould of his father and has all the raw materials to be just as good as his Dad. Federico Bessone, Neill Collins and Alex Bruce were the other notable addition Grayson made over the summer to add some strength in depth and competition for places.

Leeds were breathtaking at times and so often overpowered their opponent down in League One, but they were so vulnerable occasions mentally. When Leeds went into slumps they took an age to break free, and in a league so competitive as the Championship, Leeds will need to be at their very best in just about every clash. Simon Grayson’s has built a strong squad, one more than capable of being an accomplished team in this division, but there’s been a lack of consistency in recent campaigns which looks likely to hold them back in any sort of promotion charge this season. There’s no doubt whatsoever that Leeds United are capable of challenging for a top-six finish, they have enough fire-power up front, creativity and guile in midfield, and solidarity and reliable characters at the back. It’s all about the mental toughness with Leeds and whether they’ve found enough mentle resolve over the summer to really be a force back in the Championship.

To Be Promoted: 6/1 SkyBet
To Be Relegated: 12/1 totesport

Leicester City

Manager: Paulo Sousa
Key Player: Matty Fryatt

It’s been a little over six years since Leicester fans were last treated to Premiership football, six years too long in many Foxes eyes, but the club, Milan Mandaric in specific, believe they’ve hired the right man to guide the club back to its former glory. Paulo Sousa, the former Swansea manager, was appointed as Nigel Pearson’s replacement over the summer and become the clubs first ever foreign manager. Sousa transformed Swansea into a tidy, classy little outfit during his time in Wales. Will the Portuguese coach have the same affect on Leicester? Fans will certainly be hoping so as it’s been far too long since Leicester City were playing attractive football against notable opposition.

Fans are genuinely optimistic that Paulo Sousa can guide Leicester to promotion this season, whether that be through the play-off’s they don’t really care. We believe the Foxes are good enough for a top-six finish but will have done remarkably well to have done so with this current crop of players. Don’t get me wrong, there’s goals in this team through the courageous Matty Fryatt, powerful Steve Howard and experienced Paul Gallagher, and they will win their fair share of games this season. But there’s something missing and we can’t quite out our finger on what that missing ingredient is. Perhaps Sousa has the answer, we just don’t know, but last season, despite reaching the play-off’s, Leicester never really had that positive feel about them that they were going to gain promotion. At least we never felt it. The club have managed to keep a large bulk of the team which worked so hard last season in getting the club into the play-off’s and at least providing the fans with some real belief that the Premiership isn’t a million miles away, and it’s those such as Fryatt and Gallagher, your Dyer and Oakley in midfield, that really need to produce another big personal effort if Leicester are to go one better this time around.

The entire team should be stronger for their play-off semi-final defeat of last season and will be that little bit more motivated and determined to not only perform better this season but to avoid the play-off’s completely by snapping up one of the two available automatic promotion positions. They’ve a squad capable of doing so, and with a manager which can get the very best out of them in terms of their technical play, something which was lacking at times with Leicester last season, there’s no reason why Paulo Sousa and Leicester won’t be in for another exciting campaign.

To Be Promoted: 6/1 bWin
To Be Relegated: 20/1 SkyBet

Hull City V Liverpool

Sunday, 9th May – 16:00 (GMT)

Hull City

League Position: 18th
Recent Form: WDWWD

Hull’s relegation back to the Championship has been the worst kept secret for a few weeks now, but the Tigers fate was finally sealed in a disappointing manner as they drew 2-2 with Wigan Athletic on Bank Holiday Monday. The goal that effectively killed them off came in the third minute of stoppage time, and while Hull’s relegation probability remain high, the way in which their fate was decided was a little bit cruel. As the old adage goes ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be’ and as Hull prepare themselves for their last Premier League outing for at least a year, they should try and saviour the moment and what a team to do it against than of England’s greats, Liverpool.

Iain Dowie stated that he was proud of his teams performance against the Latics, that his players shown an abundance of character and spirit during the 90 minutes and that a momentary lapse in injury was to blame for their slip up. We couldn’t agree more and was actually taken back by the overall performance level of the team. Dowie gave several of Hull’s rising stars a run out at The DW Stadium and it looked for all the world that Wigan would win at a cantor after seeing the line ups, but Dowie’s decision to add some youngsters worked as the kids brought about some fresh impotence and enthusiasm, it was like a breath of fresh air after a season where Hull have been dull, dull, dull for the majority.

It’s a real shame Hull couldn’t cling onto their 2-1 lead last Monday as it would gave Hull their first away win of the season and ensured they didn’t exit the Premiership with a whimper. Instead, if Hull fans are going to see one final win, their first since the end of March, it will have to come on Sunday at home to Liverpool in a game where very few will give them much of a chance. However, while Liverpool’s name is well known across the globe, back home in England it has been tarnished after a season of massive disappointment and underachievement. There will be no better time to play the Reds than on Sunday, a game which will mean nothing at all to them, whereas to Hull it will mean everything as they’ll desperate to sign off with a high.

Will Atkinson, Tom Cairney and Mark Cullen were all given a chance to shine for the Tigers on Monday afternoon and all three impressed to the gaffer in their own little ways, the latter of course getting on the score sheet. However, with the debt at the club apparently too high, and with players expected to depart during the summer, could we be seeing a glimpse of the Hull side that will take to the field for the 2010-2011 campaign? If I was a Hull fan, which I’m glad to say I’m not, I would be watching on intently as to just how strong a team you have ahead of a tough Championship seasons in a couple months time.

Liverpool

League Position: 7th
Recent Form: DDWWL

Where do we even begin o describe the turbulent season Liverpool fans have had to endure, and endure is the perfect word to sum up the emotions of the fans in what has been a dramatically disappointing campaign from their team. Rafael Benitez supposedly had a team capable of challenging for the title at the start of the season but go nowhere near his title objective and, come the end, didn’t even cement a top four finish, leaving the Reds out in the cold as far as Champions League football is concerned. It is no mathematically impossible for Benitez to hand Liverpool the fourth spot he guaranteed around Christmas time, and with Liverpool having already waved goodbye and thanked their fans for their support back at Anfield last Sunday, this match down at Hull will mean very little to player, who will know have one eye either on South Africa or the their holidays.

I bet if you asked 100 people where they expected Liverpool would finish at the end of the season, about 5 or 6 would say any lower than sixth, but that’s the reality of the situation Liverpool find themselves in as they prepare for the final fixture of an inadequate season. The Reds will now have no option but to be content with a spot in next seasons UEFA Europa League in a competition the fans will feel they are far too good for despite not winning the trophy this season after falling at the semi-final stage, but perhaps that is why Liverpool’s have fallen so hard and emphatically from grace, they expect too much from a squad which, let’s face, simply isn’t good enough to challenge for major honours – The proof’s in the pudding as Liverpool went yet another season without silverware, while it was evident during their game with Chelsea at the weekend that Liverpool are miles off the standard of the Blues, who are set to lift the Premiership trophy aloft next Sunday because of their win at Anfield.

It’s not even as though plans have began for next season, as no-one knows the foggiest who will be at the club for next season. The manager, Rafael Benitez, is being strongly linked with a move to Juventus in the summer, and after a season which had promised so much but delivered so little, some fans would probably be glad to see the back of the Spaniard. However, Benitez’s departure if the least of their worries as rumours circulate that Torres and Benayoun could be seeking moves elsewhere. Either way, it’s turmoil for a club which should be established, certainly should be solvent and definitely should be challenging for major honours every single season. Anfield will be the centre of speculation over the summer you feel.

With Sunday’s final fixture in mind, it’s difficult to contemplate why any of the Liverpool’s would be motivated for the trip to Hull City. Their season is effectively over, the highest they can finish is sixth while those who play for their country will now begin planning for the World Cup. Their commitment and desire ahead of the trip to Hull would be questioned, as why it will be there at The KC when it hasn’t for the majority of the season is baffling, but then again this is Hull City we’re talking about, and if Liverpool are to close out a drab season with a tiny bit of gloss, they won’t find an easier fixture to do it in.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.60 Expekt

Hull battled on in a commendable fashion at Wigan last Monday, but the 2-2 draw summed up a frustrating season for the Tigers. They have one final chance to leave the Premiership with their heads firmly held high, and while they shown enough character and spirit against Wigan to indicate they could spring one final surprise on Sunday, we just fancy Liverpool to prove too strong at The KC Stadium. We certainly wouldn’t go diving into Liverpool’s price but with the quality on show, regardless of their underachievement this season, they should come through their final fixture of the season unscathed and with a comfortable victory against a hapless Hull City.

Match Odds

Hull City – 6.50 SkyBet
Draw – 4.00 bWin
Liverpool – 1.60 Expekt

SoccerBetting Pick: Liverpool -2 Goals (Asian Handicap) – 4.20 Bet365

Wigan Athletic V Hull City

Monday, 3^rd May – 13:30 (GMT)

TV Coverage: ESPN

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: LLDWL

Motive: No

Roberto Martinez, who has had his fair share of critics this season, could guide Wigan to an unbeaten end to the season at The DW should the Latics not lose at home to Hull City at the weekend. Martinez has recently seen his Wigan troopers go three games without a loss at The DW Stadium, and in what has been a frustrating kind of year for Wigan supporters in terms of the inconsistency of their results, the Spanish born manager could end the campaign on a little high note.

The club’s final league fixture at The DW is a home fixture with all but relegated Hull City, so everyone involved with Wigan should be very confident of finishing their home campaign with a final victory. It would be the ideal tonic coming just weeks after their Arsenal heroics, while Wigan fans could at least say they won more games than they lost at home with a win over a hapless Hull.

Wigan’s record at home in the league currently weighs in at 6-6-6, a rather spooky figure, but it’s a figure which underlines their inconsistent nature. However, that memorable win over Arsenal three weeks ago, who at the time were still chasing the league title, means Wigan could end the season with back-to-back wins at The DW – A feat they’ve achieved just once all season. After beating Arsenal and pulling out one of the brilliant and bizarre 10 minutes spells we think we’ve ever seen, Wigan have surely got to fancy their chances against a team which hasn’t won a single away fixture all season.

It’s a shame because Wigan play some decent and attractive football but rarely get the plaudits they deserve until they beat one of the big boys in the division. Wigan have looked on the ropes on more than one occasion, but to Roberto Martinez’s credit he hasn’t abandoned his ambition to get Wigan playing proper on the floor football. Of course, his desire to have Wigan play in a desirable manner hasn’t always paid dividends but when it comes off it looks magnificent and it did so against the Gunners in their last home outing. Against Hull, a team which will give Wigan’s players a lot of time and space on the ball – while Hull always have big gaps at the back – Wigan should enjoy themselves further if they play in the same attacking vein as they aim to end the campaign with a shade of style.

Hull City

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LLDLL

Motive: No – Relegated

While Hull City may not be officially relegated from the English Premier League, the maths does the rest and unless the last two set of fixtures dramatically go their way, Hull will be relegated. Their fate looks likely to be settled on Saturday anyway as we don’t see them getting an awful lot from this fixture at Wigan Athletic. Iain Dowie will undoubtedly give another one of his useless prep talks claiming this Hull side will fight to the bitter end, but the white flag is now aloft and it’s now time to wave goodbye to the hapless Hull gang.

The Tigers won’t want to quietly go out of the Premiership exit door mind, they’ll want to leave with a bang, perhaps an indication that they just might pop back in a few years time. That doesn’t look too likely though considering the financial state of the club. Several big names – We’ll let you know when we see any of them – will leave the KC during the summer in a bid to reduce the wage bill at the club, while whoever is in charge, and that’s unlikely to be Iain Dowie judging by his poor points return during his poor and yet brief spell as Hull manager, will need to recruit some new Championship blood.

Until then, however, Hull will go out and give it their all in a bid to finish the best of the relegated pack. A laughable objective in reality but that’s the predicament they are in. To be fair, Hull look a shoe in to finish above 19^th placed Burnley as the Clarets are woeful. Even so, it will do the players and the fans a world of good to notch up another win before the Premier League draws to it’s predictable close as both may not be involved in another Premiership fixture for quite some time.

There is also a huge carrot like incentive for Hull City: To avoid going the entire season without an away win. The good news is they have a fairly decent opportunity to end their drought with a visit to Wigan’s DW Stadium. The bad news, Hull are a dreadful away outfit and will do well to pick up a point up in Wigan let alone all three. They did somehow snatch a point from the clutches of Birmingham City in their last away venture when drawing 0-0 at St Andrews, but before that Hull were on a six match losing streak on the road, and the Tigers unfortunately look a good bet to return top losing ways. There will be some dishearten figures in the Hull team on Saturday, sapped of morale and low in spirit and it’s difficult to find a case for Dowie’s pussy-cats, we mean Tigers, as they look set to go the whole season without an away victory.

Match Verdict: Wigan Athletic to WIN – 1.85 SportingBet

We can understand how Wigan Athletic aren’t one of the more reliable teams to back. They’re probably the most unreliable if truth be told, but they really do look a stonking good bet to give Hull City a final spanking before their relegation fate is confirmed. Hull just can’t defend, it’s as simple as that, and until their defensive issues are resolved, which won’t be any time soon, they will continue to concede goals. Wigan are hardly bombproof at the back but they are a decent little attacking force when they want to be, and against a team they know very well they have every chance of beating, we expect a confident display from the Latics, dare we say it, as they look to record their first back-to-back league wins at home since September.

Match Odds

Wigan Athletic – 1.85 SportingBet

Draw – 3.60 Bet365

Hull City – 4.80 VCbet

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Wigan Athletic/Wigan Athletic (HT/FT Betting) – 3.00 bWin

Hull City V Sunderland

Saturday, 24^th April – 15:00 (GMT)

Hull City

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LWLLD

With just three games left to play, Hull find themselves in a sticky situation, or as Iain Dowie likes to now call it “Squeaky Bum-Time”. The dopey looking figure has hit the nail on the head as Hull fans must be bricking it as the Tigers failed to capitalize on a glorious opportunity to narrow the gap between them and safety after losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa. It means there’s no margin for error, as if there was before, and that Hull must now win at least two of their remaining three league fixtures just to have any chance of avoiding what no looks an inevitable drop.

To say Hull are buggered wouldn’t be an exaggeration as they require a tonne of luck and good fortune to get them out of the mess they’re in right now. On Wednesday, victory over Aston Villa would have sent Hull level on points with West Ham in 17^th but Hull wasted that chance, a hard one at that, and instead find themselves back at square 1. However, their predicament is a tricky one as they now need not only to win their remaining three games, ideally, but others to lend them a helping hand as well by beating West ham directly above them. The Hammers are basically one win away from guaranteed safety as Hull’s goal difference of -40 is dire and effectively deadly.

They have been blessed in some respect in that they’ve been handed a second chance in the form of another home fixture only this time against an easier opponent. Sunderland are their next tormentor, I mean opponent, as Hull aim to break their baron four game run without a league win on Saturday against a Sunderland side which has won just once away from home all season. That makes for dire reading but it’s one more than Hull have managed this season, but that’s another story. At home, however, Hull have fared a bit better, although not a lot. The Tigers have registered six wins at The KC Stadium and have won twice since the start of the year. However, their last two home games have ended in disaster as defeats to Burnley (1-4) and Aston Villa (0-2) don’t make for light reading.

Iain Dowie has drowned on for weeks now that this group of players have plenty of fight and bags of grit. So why haven’t we seen any of either? Since Dowie took over at the Hull helm aiming to be their saviour, an ugly version of Superman if you like, Hull have picked up just four points from a possible eighteen and have arguably fared a load worse under Dowie’s influence then they perhaps might of under their former manager, a fan favourite, Phil Brown. It was a bizarre decision at the time and one that cannot be undone now, but it’s a decision which looks even more likely haunt the Hull board as Hull’s one-way flight to the Championship is nearing it’s destination.

Sunderland

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: DLWLW

Steve Bruce will be hoping to double Sunderland’s slim and rather embarrassing away win tally of just one win all season when they travel to Hull to take on a Tigers team plagued with relegation it would seem. Hull’s Tigers haven’t had much to roar about in recent weeks, although their point last weekend at Birmingham will have raised spirits, but Sunderland’s Black Cats got their cream last Saturday as they beat one of Hull’s relegation compatriots in Burnley 2-1 at The Stadium of Light. Can the Cats land their first back-to-back league wins of the season (Yes, of the season!) at the Tigers’ expense.

In fairness, the only real difference between these two teams, apart from Sunderland boasting one of the league’s biggest improver’s of the season in Darren Bent, is Sunderland’s decent form back on home soil. However, if their home form mirrored that of their away then Steve Bruce would be in a similar predicament to that of Iain Dowie at Hull as Sunderland have been useless away from home this season. Bolton are the only team they’ve beaten on the road this season, with even that rare piece of away delight coming on the opening day of a closing season, while Sunderland are on the verge of recording their third successive away defeat should they lose yet again on Saturday.

Liverpool 3-0 and West Ham 1-0 mean Sunderland could make it a hat-trick of away losses if they fall to defeat at The KC stadium this Saturday. It’s a hat-trick they won’t want to complete that’s for sure, although, Sunderland’s dire away record of 1-2-14 makes that losing scenario a genuine possibility. Moreover, their opponents, Hull City, have everything to play for and need each and every point they can get hold off. Sunderland, however, have nothing but minor placings to concern them and, at least in their recent away fixtures, finishing a little higher up hasn’t concerned them as they’ve been dreadful on the road for ages and haven’t scored away from home in over 200 minutes.

Sunderland’s remaining away fixtures do mean the Black Cats have a couple of great opportunities to end their season with an away high as fans won’t want to see the campaign finish with just one away win all season. After this trip to Hull, Sunderland travel to Wolves. Arguably the game with Hull does appear easier but Wolves, by the time the last set of fixtures comes around, could have nothing to play for as well as they appear to have survival wrapped up also. We hope Sunderland give it their all in both encounters as it would be a shame to cap a promising season off with an 18 game away run without winning.

Match Verdict: Sunderland to WIN – 3.25 SkyBet

Hull will try to win, at least we hope, but it will be vein once more as Sunderland, a side who’ve won just once away from The Stadium of Light all season, look a decent bet to double their tally at Hull’s expense, virtually relegating the club in the process.

Hull have looked a team doomed for some time in our eyes even though their remaining fixtures were decent enough for them to pick up sufficient points to remain in the Premiership. They’ve passed up the easy fixtures and are now relying on some big displays from their little players in the big encounters against teams who, quite simply, are a lot better than them. Sunderland are one of those ‘better’ teams nd with Darren Bent in the form of his life just before the plane for South Africa departs, we fancy our chances on the Black Cats at The KC Stadium.

Sunderland are the value of the weekend by quite some distance.

Match Odds

Hull City – 2.38 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 Bet365

Sunderland – 3.25 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Darren Bent FGS – 6.50 Coral

Birmingham City V Hull City

Saturday, 17^th April – 15:00 (GMT)

Birmingham City

League Position: 9th

Recent Form: LLDDL

Birmingham aren’t used to heavy defeats in what has been a consistently pleasing campaign. Disappointing results have only come in rare spurts but they got one on Sunday as their side were thumped 5-1 by a classy Manchester City. Perhaps the score was a tad flattering but that doesn’t change the final score. It was a heavy defeat for Alex McLeish and his players, their heaviest of the season thus far, and McLeish will be wanting a positive response from his players in their very next outing, which just so happens to be against a Hull side fighting for their lives down near the foot of the table.

Birmingham were outclassed on Sunday by a team far superior to them in just about every department. They were the underdogs that day despite their impressive campaign, but on Saturday it’s them who will be expected to win, and to win well. Birmingham, who are 9^th in the table, take on Hull City who are 19^th and gasping for clean air. On paper it should be a run-of-the-mill win for the home side, Birmingham, but the Blues, after their biggest defeat of the season last Sunday, have now gone six games without a win in the league and haven’t won at St Andrews for over a month. To say Birmingham are going through a sticky patch of form would be an understatement, while their 5-1 defeat in Manchester at the weekend won’t have helped to lift the spirits of the Birmingham camp.

The one thing this fixture with Hull does do is give the team a fabulous opportunity to get back on the winning trail and perhaps win rather cosily if truth be told. While the club has struggled for wins of late, their recent fixtures have been tough on paper. The likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City and Everton have all tried their luck against McLeish’s Blues, while it’s certainly worth pointing out that only Man City were successful in their bids to defeat Birmingham City. Moreover, while Birmingham have fallen to three consecutive defeats on the road, they are still unbeaten at St Andrews for nearly seven months – OUSTANDING – A run of 13 league games without losing on home soil. Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United & Chelsea have all failed in their bids to overhaul Birmingham in front of their own fans, so surely it doesn’t bode well for their visitors on Saturday.

Alex McLeish and Birmingham really have to win on Saturday, although, unlike previous Premiership campaigns, it’s not because Birmingham are scraping points in a bid to avoid relegation. Birmingham were assured of their Premiership status a long time ago, which is a credit to the players and the managerial staff in itself, but McLeish will want his team to finish the campaign trail strongly and will be desperate to banish the clubs longest win drought of the season. You would have to fancy their chances against a hapless Tigers, but Birmingham have proven to be a team which thrives of confidence building runs and it does remain to be seen as to whether they can etch out a victory with very little in terms of form behind them. While it may not be the toughest challenge Birmingham will face this season, this game will be a test of character.

Hull City

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: LLWLL

After a hard fought win at home to Fulham a fortnight ago, Iain Dowie’s Tigers appeared a team on the up, fit and raring to go in this relegation challenge. However, that clearly wasn’t the case as Hull lost their roar over the weekend to Burnley. In a fixture Hull simply had to win purely because it was their easiest game left to play, not only did the Tigers come up short but they were spanked by a team which no-one in the country, us included, could see winning another Premiership game this season. If that wasn’t a harsh lesson in never to back Hull ever again then we don’t know what is.

After failing to seize a golden opportunity with both hands last Saturday, miserably, Hull now need a result in their very next outing. They must go on their travels though to get the result they crave, a winning one, but they will have to do something that not one of England’s so called ‘Big Four’ could achieve this season and that’s win at St Andrews. Considering Birmingham just don’t do losing at home, and that Hull just don’t do winning away from home, surely Hull are doomed as they head over to Birmingham?

To be perfectly honest and straight to the point, Hull won’t be winning on Saturday. It just doesn’t appear theoretically possible. What lyes in waiting is a Birmingham side who’ve not lost at St. Andrews since the middle of September last year, while Iain Dowie will take a Hull City side to St. Andrews which hasn’t one a single away fixture all season. In fact, in 17 away outings thus far, Hull have avoided defeat on just four occasions. They’ve been a mess on the road, a disaster to follow, so it really would be a shock should they end their baron away run at such a difficult venue this Saturday.

Just to compound the misery of the Hull fans, we thought it would be an appropriate time to mention Hull have lost their last six away games on the spin. Moreover, their tally of just 10 goals scored on the road is right up there with the very worst in the league. Hull have been ordinary at home but woeful on the road. After their humiliating 4-1 loss to Burnley at the weekend, Iain Dowie must somehow lift his troops and pull a genuine rabbit out of the hat in order to prosper at St. Andrews.

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.50 Boylesports

Hull have to win a large portion of their remaining fixtures to stay up and a trip to Birmingham, while it may look hard on paper, may not be all that bad and does actually present them with a decent opportunity to get the ball rolling. Birmingham have been so resilient at home though that no-one has beaten them at St Andrews since September of last year. However, despite holding both Arsenal & Liverpool to draws their recently, Birmingham haven’t looked entirely convincing, while they’ve been non-existent from an attacking point of view. By the same token, Hull were dreadful at the weekend as they fell to an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at home to Burnley. But the Tigers are now in a do or die situation and we fancy Iain Dowie to put out an attack minded side on Saturday in a bid to register what will be considered a massive win. We did consider taking a chance on them at the odds, while Birmingham were too short for our liking even if it is understandable as to why. We’re playing a tad safer and being more realistic with a draw.

Match Odds

Birmingham City – 1.83 SkyBet

Draw – 3.50 Boylesports

Hull City – 5.00 VCbet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Hull City to Score 2 or More Goals – 3.75 PaddyPower

Hull City V Burnley

Saturday, 10^th April – 15:00 GMT

Hull City

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LLLWL

Hull’s bid to avoid the dreaded drop was dealt a swift blow at the weekend as the Tigers fell to their seventh defeat of the campaign on Saturday against a resilient Stoke City. It was perhaps a game few thought Hull would get anything from, but after their 2-0 victory at home to Fulham many were anticipating a change in fortunes for Iain Dowi’es men, whom has now lost two of his three games in charge of Hull City and now has just six games left to save Hull’s bacon. 

Hull weren’t really at the races last Saturday in that they just didn’t deal with the physical attributes of Stoke. They aren’t the only ones to come a cropper at The Brittania but that will be little in terms of consolation as the Tigers now come to terms with life back in the bottom three. They are, however, just a single point away from safety and will head into this weekends clash with Burnley, a team in a far more dire situation than themselves, knowing that three points would both boost their situation significantly and perhaps lift them back out of the relegation zone and onto safe ground.

Iain Dowie is the man left with the job of steering Hull away from the doom and gloom of the Premiership’s basement and he claims he has a squad full of determined individuals willing to shed blood for the cause. Well, based on Saturday’s showing we would disagree strongly as Hull didn’t do an awful lot in terms of rustling a few Stoke feathers, although Hull are hardly the type of team to get stuck in. However, in fairness Hull were never really fancied to get an awful lot from their outing at Stoke so the players didn’t have to deal with that winning pressure. That will change on Saturday though as this is a fixture where not only do Hull stand a very good chance of notching up a rare league win but it’s a game they just have to win as it’s by far their east game left to play.

We will forgive Hull’s efforts a week ago and will give them a go on Saturday. After all, if they can’t beat Burnley at The KC Stadium then there’s no-one they can beat. Burnley are now the league beating boys and Hull really will kick themselves should they not seize this golden opportunity to register three vital points with both hands. We aren’t claiming Hull are bankers as they are far from it, especially considering their recent form of just one win in seven and six defeats from their last seven, but Hull have been more resolute at home of late and have only lost once their since the turn of the year (2-2-1). They were the winning team in their last home fixture, a 2-0 victory over Fulham, and we fancy their chances of making it back-to-back league wins at The KC Stadium this Saturday, what would be their very first of the season.

Burnley

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: DLLLL

Wow – The most appropriate word we could use to describe the mauling Burnley got at the weekend. Brian Law must be tearing his hair out after his teams display last Saturday in what was an absolute massacre at Turf Moor. It was so bad that the 6-1 scoreline didn’t really do Man City any justice as they could have had a good couple more, while the fans were of the same opinion with some running for the hills before they barely got settled in their seats. If the club offered up a refund for Saturday’s ticket fee, we’re sure fans would flood to Turf Moor seeking their share of the compensation. The club haven’t been that generous but Brian Law has stated his side will be better this weekend, although it’s hard to see them being any worse in fairness.

Burnley’s 6minute capitulation has to be the fastest, most emphatic and pathetic we’ve ever seen. In fact we don’t remember any team going 3-0 within the space of 6 minutes in a Premiership fixture so at least Burnley stand a good chance of smashing some sort of weird record. To be serious for a moment, and that’s very hard as it was a comical evening in Lancashire, Burnley’s performance was diabolical and it would be an understatement to say Burnley owe it to their fans on Saturday. Some sort of result away at Hull City would go some way to repaying the fans for their commendable effort from the stands last Saturday, although only a win will do if Burnley wish to somehow mount a serious comeback for safety.

Law’s Clarets now find themselves four points adrift of safety after last weekends embarrassment and we think it’s fair to say Burnley have all but waved goodbye to life in the Premiership, so each fixture from here on out needs to be savoured by the Burnley fans and not spent trudging home midway through games, although last week was understandable. A four point deficit may not look a huge gap to some but for Burnley it’s the equivalent of the River Nile in Egypt. They just don’t look like getting any points from the remainder of their fixtures let alone a win to really saviour, while they can find themselves a tad fortunate that the only way isn’t down only because Portsmouth had nine points docked from them else Burnley would almost certainly finish the campaign bottom of the pack.

This really is one last hurrah from Burnley as this trip to Hull remains on paper their easiest assignment left to undertake. However, even this encounter with fellow relegationers Hull City looks a step too far for the Clarets who’ve shown no signs of fight or survival character and have instead decided to throw in the towel, of which this occurred a good few weeks ago. They are a club who’ve not won a league fixture since the middle of February – 10 games ago – while they’ve won just one of their last 22 fixtures. They’ve been a dead team walking for months now and soon enough we’ll get the confirmation of their demise.

Match Verdict: Hull City to WIN – 1.80 SkyBet

We can’t remember the last time we were as confident as this about Hull winning a Premiership game but Iain Dowie’s Tigers surely must be a certainty for the three points, or at least as close as. Hull are hardly the most reliable team in the division but neither are Burnley. In fact, we tell a lie as Burnley are reliable.. in Losing games that is. The Clarets will struggle to pick up a point from their remaining five games let alone win a fixture. They’re a team wobbling, crumbling and ready and waiting to concede bucket loads at your pleasure. Fortunately for them, Burnley aren’t exactly ruthless in front of goal but they won’t have to be on Saturday as just one or two will do it, while Brian laws can expect sixes and sevens from the better sides in the forthcoming weeks.

Match Odds:

Hull City – 1.80 SkyBet

Draw – 3.60 SportingBet

Burnley – 5.00 WilliamHill

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Hull City to Score 2 or More Goals – 1.80 PaddyPower

Stoke City V Hull City

Saturday, 3^rd April – 15:00 GMT

Stoke City

League Position: 11th

Recent Form: LDDLW

Stoke’s seasons just keeps on getting better and better and their hard fought win at West Ham last Saturday now puts them within another victory of rejoining the top ten. It may have been their first league win since the middle of last month but Stoke rarely do away wins and that vital set of three points should stand them in good stead as they gladly nosedive into their remaining fixtures. The objective now will be a stunning top ten finish and a home fixture with Hull City really does enable them to really push on for yet more points. 

Tony Pulis really has put himself right up there in terms of top notch managers as he converted little old Stoke into a side that never really look like going down these days. Their strong, robust, frustrating and they’ve now added some clinical finishing to their forte. They’re an awkward team to come up against especially at The Brittania where no team in their right mind looks forward to going. The proofs in the pudding as no-one outside the top ten have beaten Stoke at home this season, in fact, with the exception being Birmingham City, no-one outside the top five has overhauled Stoke at The Brittania, which puts it into perspective just how difficult Stoke will be to beat on Saturday against Hull City.

Stoke’s home form though has taken a dip as they’ve not won at The Brittania stadium since the beginning of February. It’s been a pretty lengthy four match run without a home win but they won’t have an easier opportunity to end their mini baron run than a home fixture with lowly Hull City. It must be said that Saturday’s opponents did get the better of Stoke in the reverse meeting at The KC Stadium when nudging Stoke out in a 2-1 win. It will be a different kettle of fish at The Brittania though as we quite fancy, heavily in fact, Stoke to avenge that loss this Saturday.

Stoke might need to improve their goal return at home though, as after all they are facing a point hungry Hull City. Not since they stuck three past Blackburn Rovers in early February have they scored more than once in a home fixture, while they’ve scored exactly one goal in three of their previous four home league encounters. Granted they’ve been against some stiff opposition, the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City, but it’s those sorts of runs which can have a dampener affect so Stoke will do well to score a few on Saturday just to remove any scoring jitters.

Hull City

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LLLLW 

Hull looked a sinking ship just a matter of weeks ago, perhaps even more so after Iain Dowie’s appointment, but just two games into his tenure at the club and fans are already optimistic over their chances of avoiding the drop for the second season running. They were just minutes away from victory in Dowie’s first game in charge down at Portsmouth only to lose 3-2, while he and the Hull players made amends for that defeat with just their second win in 2010 after a 2-0 victory at home to Fulham.

The aim now will be to build on their recent success, a platform for the players if you like to go on a mesmerizing run of form which would save the club from the drop once again. They left it remarkably late last season, the last day of the season in fact before they reassured the fans that Premiership football would be played at The KC Stadium for at least another year, while they could leave it just as late this time around if they don’t start picking up more points in a regular fashion. That win over Fulham was so vital as it was their first set of league points since the beginning of last month, with that 2-0 victory ending a run of five successive league defeat. It will also do wonders for the morale of the Hull dressing room, one Iain Dowie believes is full of determined individuals. 

The Hull players will need to prove they have the fighting qualities required to dig themselves out of this relegation hole as while last weekend’s victory did end a miserable run of form, it wasn’t enough to lift the Tigers out of the bottom three and into safety. The are, however, level on points with West Ham with only Hull’s inferior goal difference letting them down. However, Dowie will know the obvious that should Hull better West Ham’s result this weekend, Hull would return to safe ground. We don’t think a side can have many bigger incentives than that so there will be no excuse for failure on Saturday.

However, failure is the only result we can comprehend as Hull have been woeful away from home this season and absolute tripe of late. Since the turn of the year, Hull have picked up just one measly point on their travels in six outings, while they’ve suffered five successive defeats and would stretch that run to six should they lose at The Brittania. Moreover, they’ve been conceding goals a plenty of late shipping eleven in their last three away fixtures. They have managed to score in their previous two trips but their away goal tally of 10 is dire and against a rigid and often sturdy Stoke defence, Hull could struggle once more to locate the oppositions goal.

Match Verdict: Stoke City to WIN – 1.80 WilliamHill

Safety from the drop is all but secured for Tony Pulis and his Potters so some punters maybe edgy about betting on Stoke from now until the end of the season. Not us though, especially against a hapless Hull. The Tigers may have won their last league encounter against Fulham but it was against a Fulham side with European football firmly on their minds and whom are terrible away travellers themselves, much like Hull. The team sporting bright Orange struggle for creativity and sharpness in their away games and could find themselves against the cosh against a strong and home orientated Stoke City. The Potters to make it back-to-back wins on Saturday and end Hull’s hopes of doing the very same.

Match Odds:

Stoke City – 1.80 WilliamHill

Draw – 3.60 Bet365

Hull City – 5.00 Coral

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Stoke City to WIN to NIL – 3.00 PaddyPower

Hull City V Fulham

Saturday, 27^th March – 15:00 GMT

Hull City

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: LLLLL

Iain Dowie was handed nine games to save Hull City, in affect nine lives. Well, he’s already down one after tasting bitter defeat in just his first outing at Hull manager down at Fratton park last Saturday, arguably the easiest venue Dowie will take his Tigers to for the remainder of the season. Fortunately for Ian Dowie, he can make amends with victory this weekend in a fixture harder than his last but still very winnable against Roy Hodgeson’s Fulham. 

Despite losing at Portsmouth, there was plenty for Iain Dowie to be positive about as Hull hit two goals for the first time this year in an away encounter. They started brightly, even taking the lead midway through the first half, but, if we’re completely honest, there were far more alarmingly negatives about Hull’s performance than positives. The only real positive was their two goals, while they did look the hungrier of the two sides up till a point, but their defending throughout was woeful, the stuff of nightmares, and after seeing their defensive horror show at Fratton Park, we don’t see how Dowie will steer Hull clear of relegation.

Hull were unfortunate to fall to a defeat though on Saturday, with Kanu’s third and Portsmouth eventual winner coming in the dying few minutes of the game. Even so, Hull were their own worse enemy on the day with some kamikaze defending. It got so bad that at times I simply couldn’t watch. I could only compare it to watching Claire Sweeney trying to sing. Their suicidal defending will be the death of the club in terms of relegation as while they carrying on defending like maniacs, we see no hope for the Premiership’s Tigers. The three they conceded on Saturday was their 13^th conceded in their last four games, which just about says it all.

Dowie certainly has his work cut out if he is to work wonders with Hull and guide them away from the drop. They struggle for fire-power in front of goal, with their two on Saturday a surprise to us all, while they’re conceding by the bucket load. It’s the worst recipe for disaster and the proofs in the pudding: Since November of last year, Hull have managed just one solitary win in the Premiership, that coming by virtue of a surprising 2-1 home win over Man City. That came early last month with Hull spending the rest of February and the entirety of March on a losing spree of five games. Defeat on Saturday would make it six defeats in a row for a doomed Hull, although they cane take heart from their two defeats in eleven at The KC Stadium.

Fulham

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: WWDLL 

Fulham failed to emulate their euphoric success in the Europa League with victory in the FA Cup on Wednesday, with Roy Hodgeson’s Cottagers bowing out at the quarter-final stage. While just three days earlier they were losing their second consecutive league game against Man City. So while last week was one of thee memorable weeks in the clubs history after beating Juventus 4-1 at Craven Cottage, this week has been disastrous with Fulham now on the verge of losing their third competitive fixture in a row at The KC Stadium. 

There must be concerns over the mental state of the Fulham dressing room after suffering a bitter blow in the FA Cup in midweek. To go out is one thing but to exit the oldest domestic cup competition in the World after dominating the opening half will hurt and perhaps leave a scar that will at least last until their visit to Hull. It also doesn’t help have an away voodoo lurking over you, one Fulham have never really shrugged off even since joining the Premiership back in 2001.

To throw some numbers at you; After 15 away games thus far, Fulham have only managed to convert one of those into victory. That being a 1-0 win way back on the opening day of the season against relegated elect Portsmouth. That win came over seven months leaving Fulham without an away win in the league in 14 attempts. One of the reasons why Fulham have struggled so badly on the road has been their poor vein of form in front of goal, with their tally of 11 away goals up their with the very worst in the league. Moreover, Fulham have scored an away goal in little over 510 minutes of play. An abysmal goalless streak that’s lasted nearly three months.

The statistics are heavily stacked against the Cottagers, while the omens are exactly in their favour either after suffering a 2-1 defeat at The KC Stadium in their only visit to Hull in the Premier League. That of course coming last season. The positives, well they’re aren’t any really, although Fulham can play good football when they want to and proved this at White Hart Lane for 40 minutes. However, they also put in a horror show in the second half and just capitulated, so there goes that glimmer of hope.

Match Verdict: Hull City to WIN – 2.50 Bet365

Bit of an audacious punt this one as we take a chance with some hapless Tigers. Their opponents, Fulham, will be hurting after their FA Cup demise on Wednesday, while they were beaten for the second time in a row last Sunday in the Premier League when going down 2-1 to Man City. The London based side have been poor away from home this season and don’t look to have the mettle needed to win at The KC Stadium, while Hull should be the more hungrier of the two teams considering they’re fighting for their life’s down near the bottom of the league table and can ill-afford to let an opportunity as good as this pass them by,

Match Odds:

Hull City – 2.50 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Fulham – 3.10 Expekt

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Hull City to Score 2 or More Goals – 2.40 PaddyPower

Portsmouth V Hull City

Saturday, 20^th March – 15:00 GMT

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: DLWLL

Portsmouth’s fortunes are about to turn decidedly worse as a nine-point deduction for entering into administration is about to be enforced on them, which would make the club the first ever to partake in a Premiership fixture whilst in administration – A record, but not one Pompey fans will be jumping over the hill about. With relegation to The Championship almost a certainty now, the players face an almost impossible task of avoiding the drop as the gap between them and safety would be a hefty seventeen points, but they do have the chance on Saturday to at least reduce the deficit with victory over a Hull side with problems of their own.

Portsmouth, though, don’t have too many fond memories of playing Hull, and neither do we as spectators as the last two meetings between the two have finished goalless. However, these two have only met once at Fratton Park before and that ended in an entertaining 2-2 draw, although that did come at a time when both teams knew how to score and weren’t in crisis. That isn’t really the case now, far from it, with Portsmouth managing just 25 goals after 29 games – Averaging less than a-goal-a-game. They have, however, scored a large proportion of those at Fratton Park, 17 in fact, so if there are to be goals ever in another meeting between the two then Saturday could be the day. 

Pompey’s recent form at Fratton Park though is abysmal to say the very least, with their home record looking more like that of an away one (3-2-9). Their accumulation of just three home wins is the worst in the league, while their nine defeats they’ve suffered on home soil is also the highest. Just to compound the misery of the fans, Portsmouth haven’t won a home fixture since the middle of December when beating Liverpool 2-0. A victory which was recently reversed in emphatic style just last Monday with Liverpool gaining their revenge by smashing Portsmouth 4-1 at Anfield.

We’ve said this a few times now and Pompey have popped up to prove us wrong on each occasion, but surely their heavy defeat at Anfield on Monday night is the last we’ll see of Portsmouth in that surely they don’t have an awful lot more in the tank to give. The morale of the squad can’t be at all high right now as the club is a farce, while you’d like to think their leave their best performance for the Semi-Final clash with either Fulham or Tottenham, which isn’t too far away now. Even so, we don’t rate Hull so Pompey fans could be celebrating early, albeit in a somewhat in vein manner.

Hull City

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: WLLLL

It’s been a bit of a pantomime at The KC in recent days, with the farcical ranging from a Jimmy Bullard Vrs Nick Barmby scrap to Phil Brown ultimately leaving his post, or being thrown out as the comments we heard seemed to reveal. We actually felt it was a smart decision from the board, what with their being nine games left to change Hull’s fortunes in avoiding the drop, and it’s nine fresh games for the new manager to come into the club and impose his new tactics and style of play onto a team that weren’t going anywhere fast. 

Ian Dowie, Hull City’s new man at the helm (A popular pundit on Sky Sports News), was Phil Brown’s replacement and it’s been a good few years since we seen the former Crystal Palace manager, as well as many other clubs he’s been associated with, strutting his stuff on the sidelines. Only time will tell whether he has the spark and motivational skills still in his locker to lift Hull out of the doom and gloom of the drop zone, but he does have an opportunity to earn cult status at the club should he do the audacious and avoid the drop.

The problem for Dowie is Hull’s recent exploits in the league haven’t shown any indications that the players are up for the fight, with the Tigers’ 2-1 defeat at home to Arsenal last Saturday their fourth league defeat on the spin. However, it’s about to sound a whole lot worse for Ian Dowie as this Hull crop struggle to Kingdom come in away outings, with Hull yet to register an away win all season, with a record of 0-4-11. It doesn’t stop there though, as Hull fans are having to endure an away losing run of four games currently, although fans are praying Iain Dowie is the man to get them out of this slumber.

Fortunately for Dowie, he doesn’t have too many injuries or suspensions to deal with, while he even has the lively character of Jimmy Bullard at his disposal, something Phil Brown was unfortunate not to have on most matchdays. It was Jimmy Bullard, the joker of the Hull pack, who equalised on Saturday from the penalty spot against Arsenal. Both Bullard and Dowie will need to raise the spirits of the players after a string of bad results, but the players could react positively to this change in management as places in the starting eleven are now up for grabs – and there to be lost.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.40 Boylesports

This was difficult as neither look worthy of a win on paper, whilst all three previous meetings between the two have finished honours even. However, if we were to have a punt then it probably would be Hull, although we wouldn’t touch them either unless some tropical lady dressed in a Tigers shirt paid me to. The draw is the only selection we feel most comfortable with, and so we’ll play safe with that punt, although we hope for the fans sake we get a good game down at Fratton Park as the fans could do with some entertainment, while they need to saviour every last moment of Premiership action as they won’t be returning any time soon you would feel.

Match Odds:

Portsmouth – 2.20 SkyBet

Draw – 3.40 Boylesports

Hull City – 3.60 Bet365

SoccerBetting Value Pick: 2-2 Correct Score – 15.00 totesport

Hull City V Arsenal

Saturday, 13^th March – 17:30 GMT

TV Coverage: ESPN

Hull City

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: DWLLL 

Not the ideal fixture to be taking three points out of but one the Tigers will do their utmost in to at least ensure it’s a competitive affair as they welcome title chasing Arsenal to the KC Stadium. With Hull occupying one of three relegation spots, any points would be handy in their cause to avoid the drop, but the Gunners not only beat them 3-1 in their last visit to Humberside but also stuck three pas them back at The Emirates just four months ago, with Hull failing to even reply in that clash. So, will Phil Brown have his Tigers fired up for the second encounter with the Gunners this season, or will they prove a toothless bunch once more?

Well, if their recent form of three successive defeats is anything at all to go by then the answer would be toothless. However, in Hull’s defence, all three were away fixtures; losing at Blackburn (1-0), West Ham (3-0) and more recently Everton (5-1), with the latter the most emphatic of the lot and coming at just the wrong time, just before they welcome an Arsenal team who scored five past Portuguese giants FC Porto in midweek. 

Right, with the ugly facts out of the way, we turn towards the prettier parts, much like Beauty & the Beast, with Hull clearly the beast I’m afraid, despite their recent vein of form back at home. In Hull’s defence, and they would need a strong lawyer to battle their case for three points this weekend, they are unbeaten in their last three at home, but, more importantly, they beat a Man City side 2-1 in their most recent home appearance – A City team who later went on to beat the current league leaders Chelsea in emphatic fashion.

Funnily enough, Hull have been partial to a bit of home resistance this season as back in October they went on a month long run without losing at home, going six games unbeaten at the KC. After avoiding defeat to Wolves (2-2), Chelsea (1-1) and Man City (2-1), Hull have not only gone three unbeaten at home and boosted their survival claims significantly, but they’ve also put together some surprisingly strong home form, with both Chelsea & Man City failing to beat Hull at the KC this month, so perhaps Hull are capable of adding another high-profile team to their shocker list.

Arsenal

League Position: 3rd

Recent Form: LWWWW

The Arsenal camp will be in buoyant mood after they surprised us all with their stunning efforts in the Champions League last-sixteen on Tuesday. Cesc Fabregas was ruled out of even featuring for the Gunners in midweek so to win in such an emphatic and domineering manner was sensational, and a credit to all involved in preparing the side for that big clash. Arsenal ran out more than comfortable winners in a 5-0 romp at the Emirates, becoming the very first English side to go into the draw for the quarter’s.

It’s back to the real business now though as Arsenal set their sights on another crucial victory on Saturday, this time the reward will be three huge points. Arsenal’s recent rich vein of form; winning their last four league games, has resulted in the Gunners being thrown straight back into this title equation, with Arenal now just two points off the pace set by Manchester United. In fact, victory on Saturday, what would be their fifth on the spin, could send the Gunners top of the league should Chelsea’s come a cropper against their London rivals, West Ham. That doesn’t look likely though, so Arsenal might merely have to settle for a win that would keep the pressure firmly on Chelsea and Man Utd.

Arsene Wenger will be supremely confident of his teams chances as they have a good record against Hull of late, having won their last two clashes with the Tigers. Moreover, while Hull have been struggling in front of goal, Arsenal have been creating chances a plenty, even if they haven’t exactly been as clinical as one might hope. They proved on Tuesday night though that this Arsenal side had goals in them so Hull could be their unlucky victim which they unleash their wrath on this weekend. Arsenal last couple of games have been more about battling qualities rather than outright skill and technical ability, with the Gunners having to win in an unfamiliar untidy manner of late. That should have been different however had they put away the majority of their chances, especially on Saturday against Burnley.

Arsenal were a team waiting to erupt after weeks of spurring chance after chance and only managing the odd few goals in games, which would be good for some but not for an Arsenal side who pride themselves on their forward prowess and ability to score goals. Porto were the side they unleashed their fury on but have they used it all up on the Portuguese side?

Match Verdict: Arsenal to WIN – 1.44 Boylesports

We’re going with the form book here, although that’s a bit misleading considering Hull haven’t lost at home in their previous three visits. Even so, Arsenal looked far too tasty to oppose after Tuesday’s demolition job of Porto. Moreover, Arsenal have been used to battling their way to results of late and should be battle hardened for their trip to Hull. The Tigers aren’t the most physical of sides but they do get in your face and close you down with some sharp tackles. However, Hull are also a team which get deflated pretty fast so a quick strike for the Gunners could be a huge blow as Hull aren’t renowned for their scintillating comebacks.

Arsenal for us as they aim to complete a hat-trick of wins against the Tigers, one that would keep them in the hunt for the Premier League crown and pile more pressure onto Manchester United who play 24 hours later.

Match Odds:

Hull City – 9.00 WilliamHill

Draw – 4.80 VCbet

Arsenal – 1.44 Boylesports

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Nicklas Bendtner anytime scorer – 2.38 StanJames