Tottenham v Hull City: Preview

Lewis Holtby is expected to start after impressing against Aston Villa

In the last corresponding fixture between these two sides, the score ended 0-0. Although Tottenham had the majority of the possession (62%) they couldn’t get past Hull’s defence as the Tigers battled hard for a well-earned point.

Although they have only played each other four times in the Premier League, recent history shows that this fixture isn’t a one-sided affair. The last four Premiership meetings between these sides have ended with two Tottenham wins, one draw and one Hull City win, therefore the Tigers should not be written off just yet.

However, on paper, it is undeniable that Tottenham will be overwhelming favourites for the three points this time around. With players such as Christian Eriksen, Roberto Soldado and Paulinho, it is no wonder Spurs are sat in fifth, with just three points between them and table-toppers Arsenal.

Hull City, meanwhile, have hardly had a bad start to their season and many have been impressed with the Tigers on their return to the top-flight. In their first eight matches, City have won three times, drawn twice and lost on three occasions, meaning they have picked up 11 points from a possible 24.

In their last Premier League match, Tottenham beat Aston Villa 2-0, thanks to goals from Andros Townsend and Soldado. After a tight opening to the game, Spurs took control and ultimately their performance deserved the three points.

The London side also played in the Europa League on Thursday, where they won 2-0 against Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol. Goals from defender Jan Vertonghen and striker Jermain Defoe settled the score as Tottenham increased the gap at the top of Group K.

Meanwhile, Hull were narrowly defeated by Everton in their last Premier League match. In this match, Yannick Sagbo had cancelled out Kevin Miralla’s early opener, but Everton’s Steven Pienaar, returning from injury which has seen him miss his side’s last five matches, scored just 25 seconds after coming on from the bench to make the final score 2-1 to the Toffees.

All eyes will be on Tom Huddlestone as he returns to White Hart Lane for the first time since moving to Hull in the summer. The midfielder has featured in all of City’s Premier League matches but he is yet to get his first goal for the club. An ideal a time as any to net his first goal would be tomorrow, against the club he spent eight years at.

A lack of goals has been Hull’s main downfall on their return to the Premier League. Defensively, the Tigers have managed the difficult step up from the Championship to the top-flight as they have only conceded nine goals, three less than Cardiff and seven less than Crystal Palace – the other promoted teams.

Similarly to Hull, Tottenham have hardly been free-scoring this season, having only managed nine goals in eight games. However, Spurs are making a speciality of keeping clean sheets as last weekend they didn’t conceded for the fifth time this term – meaning they have kept more clean sheets than any other team this season.

Hull City have played four matches on the road and they will be looking to put their last result, a 2-1 defeat to Everton, behind them. In their other three away matches, the Tigers have failed to score and have ran out 2-0 losers on two occasions, and in the other game, they earned a hard-fought 3-2 win against Newcastle at St. James’ Park.

Team News:

Tottenham

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas could welcome back Younes Kaboul (muscle), Etienne Capoue and Danny Rose (both ankle), who will all face late fitness tests ahead of tomorrow’s clash.

Elsewhere, the manager made seven changes for his team’s midweek game and, as a result, Paulinho, Kyle Walker and Townsend are set to return to the side after being rested.

Hull City

Hull suffered a major blow this week after goalkeeper Allan McGregor picked up a thigh injury, meaning he is likely to be out for six weeks. The Scot’s replacement is guaranteed to be Steve Harper, who will make his first Premier League start for the Tigers if he is selected by manager Steve Bruce tomorrow.

Sone Aluko (calf) and Robbie Brady (hernia) are major doubts for tomorrow, while Hull will certainly be without loanee Jake Livermore (ineligible to face his parent club) and Danny Graham (knee).

Possible starting lineups

Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Vertonghen; Townsend, Paulinho, Sandro, Holtby, Sigurdsson; Soldado

Hull: Harper; Rosenior, Faye, Davies, Figueroa; El Mohamady, Huddlestone, Meyler, Brady; Aluko, Sagbo

Prediction:

This will no doubt be a tricky test for Hull and they will have to be at their best to get anything from Tottenham. However, Spurs faced a bit of a rout in their last home game as West Ham inflicted a 3-0 defeat on the north London side.

Tottenham seem to have bounced back from that shock defeat though and, after 2-0 wins in their last two matches, I think they’ll take the spoils in this game. Tottenham 2-1 Hull City.