Manchester City vs Hull City preview

By Ric Turner, Fri 30 August 2013 10:29


Manchester City vs Hull City previewA look ahead at Saturday's game at The Etihad Stadium

Manchester City vs Hull City

Date: 12.45pm Saturday 31st August 2013

Venue: The Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Phil Dowd. Assistants: D Cann, P Kirkup. Fourth Official: M Atkinson.

Television: Sky Sports

Odds: Manchester City 1/6, Hull City 16/1, Draw 7/1,

Tickets: Limited availability. See www.mcfc.co.uk for details.

Manchester City

Manager: Manuel Pellegrini

Squad (from): Joe Hart, Costel Pantilimon, Richard Wright, Gael Clichy, Aleksandar Kolarov, Joleon Lescott, Matija Nastasic, Pablo Zabaleta, Gareth Barry, Fernandinho, Javi Garcia, James Milner, Samir Nasri, Jesus Navas, Abdul Razak, Jack Rodwell, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Álvaro Negredo

Injured: Micah Richards, Vincent Kompany

Doubtful: Stevan Jovetic

Suspended: none

Form guide: WL

Hull City

Manager: Steve Bruce

Squad (from): Steve Harper, Eldin Jakupovic, Allan McGregor, Alex Bruce, James Chester, Curtis Davies, Joe Dudgeon, Maynor Figueroa, Paul McShane, Liam Rosenior, Robbie Brady, George Boyd, Ahmed Elmohamady, Tom Huddlestone, Robert Koren, Jake Livermore, David Meyler, Sone Aluko, Matty Fryatt, Danny Graham, Nick Proschwitz.

Injured: Stephen Quinn

Doubtful: Abdoulaye Faye

Suspended: Yannick Sagbo

Form guide: LW

City will look to put last week's disappointing defeat at Cardiff behind them, as Steve Bruce's side visit The Etihad on Saturday.

Vincent Kompany and Micah Richards are still absent through injury, but Matija Nastasic should be fit to start after being an unused substitute in Cardiff. Stevan Jovetic is available to make his debut, but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Hull have had a mixed start on their return to the Premiership. An opening day 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge was followed up by a 1-0 home victory against Norwich, despite playing much of the match with 10 men. Yannick Sagbo, the man sent off, serves the first of a three game suspension. Stephen Quinn again misses out through injury, whilst Abdoulaye Faye is a doubt with a calf injury.

City's last home game against Hull ended in a 1-1 draw in 2009 (Jimmy Bullard, and all that). Overall the Blues have won ten of the 23 games played against Hull, with seven draws and six defeats.

Read Hull City fan Ian Waterson's views about his club.