Both teams come into this game on the back of disappointing defeats and will hope to stop a losing run in the game down at the KC stadium on Sunday.

After beating QPR, Hull went to Belgium in the Europa League only to lose 1-0 due to an Allan McGregor mistake. Coincidentally McGregor remains a doubt for the game with a shoulder injury he picked up after the Lokeren game. Robert Snodgrass is likely to miss the remainder of the season according to Bruce, however, Bruce has no other injury doubts and as a result is likely to recall the 9 changes he made against the Belgian side.

Stoke will hope to get their first points on the board after their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa last week. Mark Hughes will be happy that he can call upon Peter Odemwingie and Geoff Cameron after extended World Cup breaks. However, Hughes has stated that Victor Moses isn’t likely to feature due to a lack of match training with his new teammates.

The two meetings between these two sides last season only resulted in one goal so it’s fair to say the game at the KC could yet again be a cagey affair as both sides look to rectify recent results. Even though Hull did lose to smaller opposition midweek the fact that most of the team that beat QPR will be fresh will put them in good stead for the game. Key players like Tom Huddlestone, Curtis Davies, and Ahmed Elmohamady will all return in order to get three points against tough opposition. Stoke will have had a full week to prepare for this game and will hope to improve on last season’s away form that only saw them get three wins on their travels. The return of Odemwingie could be a key part of this game if he returns as sharp as many Stoke fans will remember.

The games between these two sides in the past have generally faired with Stoke being the happier side. Hull have only won twice in the last 10 occasions with Stoke winning four of those. Steve Bruce will rely on Nikica Jelavic and Tom Ince to get the goals that can win this game after the Tigers failed to score against Mark Hughes’ side and because Stoke have only kept a clean sheet on three occasions in the last 23 games, conceding at least one in their last five as well, they will have great optimism. However, Stoke will see that Hull have failed to score in their last two league home games and will hope that their defence can remain solid to prevent Hull from gaining their first back-to-back victories in 11 months.

This game doesn’t promise a huge amount of goals but it could be a good game as both sides look to get those vital three points. I can see Hull edging this one only by one goal purely because they will want to replicate the good home form they had last season.

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