There’s three things City don’t need reminding of when we travel to Hull on Saturday. The result last time the two clubs met in the Play-Off Final in 2008; a repeat of the trouble last time we went to Hull; and last, but by no means least, a defeat now that we seem to be stringing a bit of a good run together.
Let’s hope for the best.
Vital Quotes:
City boss Keith Millen recalls the Wembley clash…
“It was an unbelievable occasion. Sometimes you can enjoy a big occasion, even in defeat, but not when it meant so much like it did in 2008.
“It took us a long time to get over that; I don’t think you ever do really. We were so close to the Premier League.
“However, it’s not payback time. So much has changed in both camps. I certainly won’t be mentioning Wembley to the players in the build-up to the game.”
Hull City Team News:
Hull could be without Richard Garcia, Nick Barmby and Mark Cullen for their home game with Bristol City.
Australian midfielder Garcia sustained a knee injury during the first half of last week’s goalless draw at Crystal Palace and is expected to miss out.
Veteran playmaker Barmby is definitely out due to a leg infection and striker Cullen has been ruled out due to a twisted ankle sustained in training.
Central defender Daniel Ayala is still struggling with a hamstring injury, but another centre-half, on-loan Anthony Gerrard, is expected to prove his fitness after being forced off against Palace with a calf injury.
Tigers manager Nigel Pearson has no other new injury or suspension problems as his side look to stretch their unbeaten league run to six matches.
Player to watch: Robert Koren
Midfielder with an eye for goals and assists, two strikes in the last three games and has a history of spectacular goals against the City.
Bristol City Team News:
City manager Keith Millen has no new problems ahead of the trip to the KC Stadium.
Defender Liam Fontaine missed the home victory over Derby after sustaining an ankle injury in training last week.
He is set for at least a month on the sidelines on the advice of a specialist.
Fellow defender Louis Carey has had an injection in his troublesome calf problem. The City skipper has not played since suffering the injury at Leeds on November 13 and could miss the entire Christmas schedule.
Young striker Marlon Jackson has returned from his loan spell at Aldershot, but is nursing a hamstring strain after playing for the reserves this week.
Player to watch: Brett Pitman
Five goals in three games shows he is a man in fine form.
Match Facts & Stats
Head-to-head
Bristol City have won 30 and Hull 22 of the 70 previous league meetings between these clubs.
A goal for Hull would be their 100th against the Robins.
Hull
Hull have picked up nine points out of 15 since losing at home to Humber rivals Scunthorpe on 6 November.
The Tigers have scored, on average, every 6.12 shots on target this season. It is the worst conversion rate in the Championship.
They are one of two teams in the division yet to score a penalty this season. The other is Watford.
Liam Rosenior is set to face his former club, while Richard Garcia is hoping to make his 250th career appearance.
Bristol City
Bristol City are top of the Championship’s ‘form table’ based on the last six games.
Of their 203 goal attempts this season, 123 have been on target. At 61%, it is the best accuracy rate in the division.
(source BBC)
Ref Watch:
Darren Deadman
Games: 10 Yellow Cards: 35 Red Cards: 2
Match Prediction:
HULL 1-1 CITY
I fancy City can get a draw out of this, even though Hull will be wanting to impress the new owners.
Next Fixtures:
26/12: Reading (a)
28/12: Palace (h)
01/01: Cardiff (h)
