PREVIEW: Hull City v West Ham

After the season started off so brightly, we’re now staring a must-win game square in the face. A trip to Hull wasn’t exactly the type of game we expected to be worrying about so early on in the campaign.

But the facts are that nothing less than a win could lead us in to an early fight down the bottom of the top-flight. Although that doesn’t mean to say we’ll be there all season because, no matter how bad things might seem at the moment, they will get better.

But, how bad are things really? After all, we’ve started scoring goals over the last couple of games and our performances have improved dramatically since that home loss to Stoke City.

Had it not been for the sheer brilliance of Leighton Baines’ free-kicks last weekend we would have beaten Everton, and the performance against Cardiff City on Tuesday was good considering there were seven changes to the side that lost to the Toffees.

When he’s fit enough to start, Mladen Petric looks like he could be an exciting prospect for us up front. Ricardo Vaz Te also backed up his claims that he should be given his chance up top by scoring the winner on Tuesday, while Carlton Cole’s impending return means we’ve not got more than enough fire-power to keep us going until Andy Carroll returns, whenever that may be.

Both our defence and midfield are arguably the strongest they’ve been in years, which is we really shouldn’t have anything to worry about this season. The goals from the strikers will come and, when they do, we’ll be absolutely fine.

Hull have lost just four of their last 20 games at the KC Stadium, which doesn’t particularly bode well for our away record of three wins from our last 20 on the road.

It’s going to be a tough ask to get all three points but, if we play the way have done in our last two outings, there’s every chance of securing a very rare win away from Upton Park.

Verdict: A win is important and, as a result, it’ll be a smash and grab victory.

Team News:

Hull City (11th, 7 points)

The hosts are without James Chester has been ruled out for eight weeks with a hamstring problem, while captain Robert Koren will also miss out through an ankle problem.

Maynor Figueroa and Paul McShane are expected to return to the side after compassionate leave and a hamstring injury respectively.

West Ham United (15th, 5 points)

Mark Noble returns to the side after serving his one-game suspension against Cardiff City on Tuesday night.

Stewart Downing has overcome a dead-leg suffered last month against Stoke City and will be in the squad, while Guy Demel also returns after his thigh injury.

Joe Cole is not quite ready for first-team action, while Andy Carroll is out for the long-term.

Last five meetings:

Possible starting XI:

Match in Numbers:

0 – West Ham are the only team left in the Premier League not to have conceded a goal on their travels.

5 – The Hammers are unbeaten in their last five matches against Hull.

7 – Hull have won just seven of their last 18 league matches in both the Premier League and Championship.

4 – All four of West Ham’s goals this season have been scored by Englishmen, the only side to have that a 100% English record.

3 – Hull’s Robbie Brady has been involved in three of their five top-flight goals this season, with two goals and one assist.

55 – Hull have won 55% of their last 20 home matches in all competitions.

55 – While the Hammers have lost 55% of their last 20 away matches in all competitions.

Head-to-Head (all competitions)