Premier League Preview: Hull City - Bolton Wanderers

Kick-Off: Saturday, August 22, 15:00 (local time). KC Stadium, Hull.

Nightmare Run

Hull City are still on a disastrous run of form which almost relegated them after a brilliant start to life in the Premier League last season.

They are 12 league games without a win and haven’t won at the KC Stadium at all in 2009.

The first two games of this season have not gone well either. They were decent away to Chelsea on the opening day but lost to a stoppage time Didier Drogba winner, and against Tottenham Hotspur in midweek they put on a defensive horror show and were hammered 5-1 at home.

One of the few positives so far has been the form of new signing Steven Hunt, who has scored twice already, and the Tigers will be hoping that striker Jozy Altidore can prove to be equally as impressive.

Amongst the favourites to be relegated this season, another home loss at the hands of Bolton Wanderers on Saturday would be far from ideal.

Momentum Needed

Bolton are another side struggling for form. They are winless in eight Premier League matches and lost at home to Sunderland last weekend.

They need to pick up momentum fast if they want to stay clear of the relegation battle this year but it is hard for Gary Megson, the club’s manager, to achieve real progress with such a limited budget at his disposal.

Saturday’s visitors are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Hull and a draw will be the absolute minimum they want to take from the KC Stadium – with a win not beyond them by any means.

However, like Hull who struggle at home, Bolton are equally poor away – they are yet to record three points on the road in this calendar year.

An interesting aspect of the game could be the appearance of Sam Ricketts, who moved to the Reebok Stadium from Hull in the summer, for the Trotters.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Hull City – Jozy Altidore

After being made to wait for his Hull debut, USA international Jozy Altidore will hope to hit the ground running in his first appearance for his new club. The perfect way to start would be with a goal and a win for the Tigers.

Bolton Wanderers – Kevin Davies

Kevin Davies had his best season for Bolton last time around and will be hoping for a repeat performance in this campaign. He will hope to open his goals tally against relegation candidates Hull. 

FORM GUIDE

Hull City

Hull City 1-5 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League)
Chelsea 2-1 Hull City (Premier League)

Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Sunderland (Premier League)

TEAM NEWS

Hull City

USA forward Jozy Altidore has received international clearance and is expected to play a part in the game.

Craig Fagan is also pushing for a place in the squad after recovering from a hernia operation.

Possible Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Myhill, Mouyokolo, Turner, Gardner, Dawson; Mendy, Boateng, Olofinjana, Hunt; Geovanni; Altidore.

Bolton Wanderers

Bolton's Ricardo Gardner, Joey O'Brien and Ricardo Vaz Te are all out of action. Gretar Steinsson could be back in contention after recovering from a virus.

Possible Starting XI (4-3-3):  Jaaskelainen, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Robinson; McCann, Davis, Muamba; Taylor, Elmander, Davies.

PREDICTION

Hull just have to get a win from somewhere to end the disastrous run they are on at the moment.

Bolton too could do with a bit of momentum after a slow finish to last season and a defeat on the opening day against Sunderland.

I can’t separate the two teams and think we’ll see a draw, but don’t expect to see too much free-flowing football with tensions high.

Hull City 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

Chris Myson, Goal.com