PR: Hull City vs Stoke City

I don’t believe any member of the royal family has attended a City game since the FA Cup final in 2014. On that day the current President of the FA, Prince William was present and the less said about the final score the better. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how it is viewed, that is all I have in terms of Hull City/royalty links. Marlon KING will get no further mentions, although he did score in the Premier League for City, in a 1-1 draw away at Stoke in 2008.

For a neutral Hull City may be one of the teams to watch this season. So far, 26 goals have been scored across 8 league games, which is over three goals a game so far. Only Bristol City have seen more in the Championship with 27. It all might sound very exciting but Sunday’s defeat to Sheffield United could have seen considerably more goals had either side been a little more clinical. After what was a positive start to the season, the goals against column is the highest in the division so far. A slide down the table is a worry for many, especially with performances which seem to be in great contrast to the early victories.

Last season, Stoke City at home was the final game for City before Acun Ilıcalı came in as the new owner. It showed the very worst of the McCann reign with a performance which lacked energy or threat but was sandwiched between some of the best performances of his time at the club, a loss to Everton in the FA Cup and beating Blackburn for Acun’s first game. Stoke that day were on the up and looking to the play-offs, since then they have changed manager to Alex Neil after a poor start to this season.

The quartet of former Tigers in the Stoke side is now down to a duo following the departures of Tom Ince to Reading and James Chester to Derby. Josh Tymon and Sam Clucas remain, the latter providing two assists last time out and it would not surprise anyone if he were to be influential under the lights at the MKM. For Shota’s side, a lack of Tetteh may lose an outlet when trying to clear the ball but chances were created once he had left the field which could bring some hope. Tufan, Seri and Pelkas may have benefitted from the extra days off from the starting squad. Can Stoke do it on a (what is forecasted to be) mild, dry Tuesday night in Hull?

Expected XI: Ingram; Coyle, Figueiredo, Greaves, Elder; Slater, Seri, Woods; Pelkas, Estupiñán, Tufan.

Prediction: Hull City 3-2 Stoke City

Simon Bromwich – in partnership with Hull City OSC.