Hull City

EPL Preview: Sunderland Vs Hull City, Stadium of Light, Sunderland, Saturday 18th April 2009, 15:00 BST.

Two teams with distinctly poor form go head to head this afternoon with everything to play for, and everything to loose.

This is a definite 'six pointer' of a game with each team able to take a step closer to safety if they can produce a victory at the Stadium of Light.

The last time the two teams met it ended up a 4-1 to Sunderalnd at Hull City's KC Stadium, but the score did not tell the tale of the game.

In a game overshadowed by the poor officiating of Mike Riley and lucky goals. The victory for Sunderland got Ricky Sbragia's reign as the caretaker manager turned into the full time managers job after he had helped produce two wins out of three games since taking charge from Roy Keane.

The Black Cats will be happy to see the return of Kieran Richardson who scored in the 4-1 victory at the KC Stadium. Sbragia will also be pleased that first team skipper Dean Whitehead has returned to fitness along with Andy Reid.

Stead Malbranque will face a late fitness test but the Wearsiders will be without the services of George McCartney and David Healy who both remain sidelined.

The Tigers will have to reshuffle the pack yet again with influential Captain Ian Ashbee suspended for reaching ten yellow cards in last weeks loss to Sunderland's North East rivals Middlesbrough.

Phil Brown will also be waiting on the talents of Bernard Mendy and Daniel Cousin who both need late fitness tests to show if they are ready to play.

East Yorkshire;s finest will be happy to see the return of Kevin Kilbane to the team along with George Boateng who made a cameo appearance against his old club Middlesbrough off the bench last week.

I regularly read the forums and message boards about my team, Hull City, to the annoyance of my long suffering wife. I get great pleasure out of chatting with fellow fans about the goings on at my club especially during matches as I no longer get the joy of watching live at the KC Stadium.

I now live in the States and the drive can get a bit wet.

However, I have been hearing more and more grumbling and whinging about our manager and whether he is up to the job of keeping us in the Premiership, or if we should keep him in charge at all if we have the misfortune of getting relegated at the end of the season.

I am firmly in the category of the often maligned "Happy Clapper brigade" who sees the glass as half full over the glass half empty "Doom Mongers" of the Tiger-nation.

I can see no reason why we should get rid of our manager for next season. We all knew without a doubt that this first season was going to be one of the toughest in Hull City's history.

We performed well above our abilities for a good portion of the season's start. I think that great start made a few actually believe this was going to be easy and that the Premier League was all hype over substance. Unfortunately, we have just ended up doing exactly what we all should have expected at the end.

We are not a small market but with no established Premiership experience we would always find it tough to attract quality talent on a tight budget.

We have also had some bad luck this season. Fagan getting assaulted by Guthrie against Newcastle United when he was playing some of the best football of his career. Record signing Jimmy Bullard's recurrence of his injury after only 37 minutes of his first game for the club. Marlon King's shenanigans, which are too numerous to mention.

Add to these unfortunate events and some of the poorest refereeing ever to ultimately reduce our points tally. Just think of Everton at Goodison Park or the penalty that never was against Aston Villa, along with many more.

If we go down none of those things can really be blamed on the manager, who has done remarkably well with the meagre resources at hand and even though he had seemed erratic at times he has never been dull.

He has been interesting and entertaining along the way. Yeah, there were cries for his head after the Eastlands debacle but lets face it, the players were appalling against Manchester City and deserved to get more than just an ear bashing for their efforts.

Or telling the press that he thought Geovanni should fail a drugs test in a lame and ill-advised stab at dark humour after Geovanni's remonstrations at been substituted in a game he was playing very poorly in.

There was the infamous Fabregas spitting allegation. Brown could have tackled the incident quietly and discreetly instead of in the glare of the camera, but would it have been as much fun?

Ultimately, I feel he has done a very good job under a lot of pressure. Many so called bigger managers would have crumbled and succumbed to the pressures of the media and of the task of guiding a club through the Premiership.

Would Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably the best club manager of his generation, have done any better with the players and resources available to Phil Brown? This is a manager who refused to talk to the BBC and has the resources of the wealthiest club in world football.

Could the "Special One" have conjured any more points out of the games played? Or, Kevin Keegan who famously had a melt down in a television interview as the pressure of the Premiership go to him.

The answer is "No", they don't handle the pressure better so why should Phil Brown have done a better job in his first season. He and Hull City have had a remarkable first season in the Premier League.

PL Preview: Middlesbrough Vs Hull City, The Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, 11th April 2009, 15:00BST.

Well the pressure is certainly on now for both clubs. Gareth Southgate has been playing up the significance of Saturday's fixture.

Boro will be without their influential skipper Emanuel Pogatetz, he will likely be replaced by Chris Riggott who is returning from injury. Southgate will be hoping that Adam Johnson will pass a late fitness test but he will be unable to call upon the services of Gary O'Neil who is starting a two game ban.

Phil Brown is likely to find a place on the bench for the former Boro favourite George Boateng. The veteran Dutch international has been sidelined for over two months but has bneen training for two weeks now and may get a run out aginst his old club at some stage.

The biggest doubt for the Tigers is Daniel Cousin who has not played for some weeks with a back injury. Brown will be hoping that he can shake his injury off for this important fixture.

"On Saturday we have a great game. It's a bit of a local derby - Hull will bring a big crowd with them but it is an opportunity for us to get back into the fight because at the moment we are a bit out of it. The win could take us back into it", said Gareth Southgate the Boro Boss.

The North East club have been touting the game as "One Hull Of A Game", to their fans and selling tickets at special reduced rates to try and induce their ever dwindling numbers to return to the Riverside and cheer on the Smoggies.

On the flip side Hull City have sold out their full ticket allocation for the fixture. This will mean that the Tiger-nation will be in full song for the tie with 4000 traveling Hull City fans making their way North on Saturday afternoon for this important tie.

Since the last meeting between the two clubs, a 2-1 victory for the Tigers, which saw three goals in the last 11minutes of the game.

The opening goal from Tuncay was the result of some intricate passing that opened up the Tiger's defence allowing him to slide the ball into an empty net. Hull City's equaliser was an own goal from the the unfortunate Boro keeper Turnbull. Mendy had latched onto the ball from a cross from King and shot at the near post. The ball deflected off the post onto the hapless keeper and deflected into the net, 1-1.

It wouldn't stay 1-1 for long as another attack three minutes later saw Geovanni the mercurial Brazilian receive a looped pass over the top in the box. Wheater gave him a shove in the back and Geovanni wins a penalty kick. King steps up and it's 2-1 to the Tigers.

In a game that Hull City had the majority of the play it had appeared that it would be a battling nil, nil draw but in the space of six minutes the tie was turned by errors on both sides.

This was Hull City's last home win of the season things have changed considerably for both teams and their managers.

The errors that shaped the last meeting between the clubs have been manifesting themselves ever since for both clubs, and sees them both now languishing in a relegation dog fight.

Am I releasing these too quick? Probably. Anyway, I wrote this parody out of curiosity.

Hull City's manager, Phil Brown always has this earpiece that he speaks to at every match and I've always wondered; Who is he speaking to!? And Why?

Here's my theory:

Tune - 'Wearin' My Rolex' by Wiley feat. Hot Chip.

(What does he do)
Usually shout,
Usually jump,
Usually waffle,
(all he wants to do...is have someone to speak to)

That's when he starts get'n schizophrenic.
A whole new conversation that won't cease.
It's when he's wearing his earpiece.

(What does he do)
Usually shout,
Usually jump,
Usually waffle,
(all he wants to do...is have someone to speak to)

(all he wants to do...is have someone to speak to)

That's when he starts get'n schizophrenic.
A whole new conversation that won't cease.
It's when he's wearing his earpiece.
Too much noise, don't know where his coach is.
Is he talking to grass or cock-a-roaches?
He chatters a lot, can't close it.
Could he be planning something really evil.
Fixing some matches while no-one else knows it.

(What does he do)
Usually shout,
Usually jump,
Usually waffle,
(all he wants to do...is have someone to speak to)

That's when he starts get'n schizophrenic.
A whole new conversation that won't cease.
It's when he's wearing his earpiece.

(What does he do)
Usually shout,
Usually jump,
Usually waffle,
(all he wants to do...is have someone to speak to)

That's when he starts get'n schizophrenic.
A whole new conversation that won't cease.
It's when he's wearing his earpiece.

(What does he do)

(What does he do)

(all he wants to do...is have someone to speak to)

That's when he starts get'n schizophrenic.
A whole new conversation that won't cease.
It's when he's wearing his earpiece.
Too much noise, don't know where his coach is.
Is he talking to grass or cock-a-roaches?
He chatters a lot, can't close it.
Could he be planning something really evil.
Fixing some matches while no-one else knows it.

(What does he do)
Usually shout,
Usually jump,
Usually waffle,
(all he wants to do...is have someone to speak to)

That's when he starts get'n schizophrenic.
A whole new conversation that won't cease.
It's when he's wearing his earpiece.

EPL Preview: Hull City Vs Portsmouth, Kingston Communications Stadium, Kingston Upon Hull, April 4th 2009, 15:00 BST.

This afternoon Portsmouth travel to the KC Stadium for the first time and at a crucial time in the season for both clubs. Hull City sits in 13th place in the Premiership, four points above the relegation places with Portsmouth two places below in 15th place, one point behind, but with a slightly superior goal difference.

These two clubs have not met since facing off at Fratton Park in November where they shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 score-draw. Pompey's England internationals, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson, scored for the home side, and Michael Turner scored for the Tigers before Dean Windass came on as a late Hull City substitute to score a 89th minute equaliser off Noe Pamarot's head.

Since that match a few things have changed for both clubs. Hull City's form has plummeted with only one win for the East Yorkshire outfit since early December when they beat Fulham with a last minute winner from on loan Manchester United Striker Manucho.

Portsmouth have also had their share of troubles since November. At that time Portsmouth were sitting comfortably in eighth place and former manager Tony Adams' short Portsmouth tenure was still in it's honeymoon period. The South Coasts only Premier League team managed to only gain ten points before his ultimate demise as Portsmouth's head in early February 2009.

Since then Paul Hart has held the reigns of the historic club as their caretaker manager. Hart has managed to make inroads in turning around the fortunes of the club. His period in charge has seen Pompey gain two wins, two draws and a loss—all to the tune of eight points.

Hart will be gratified to find that all but one of his players on international duty came back unscathed. The missing player, likely to be Armand Traore sustained a thigh injury playing for the French under 21 side against England.

Hart will also be pleased that England's Peter Crouch managed to work off a knock to play and score in the lacklustre 2-1 win against Ukraine alongside fellow Portsmouth players David James and Glen Johnson.

Added to this is the return of winger Jemaine Pennent who has been suffering from a calf muscle injury. Pennent who was linked with a move to Hull City during the January transfer window may make his first start since going off in the recent 1-1 draw with Middlesborough.

The East Yorkshire club are suffering more on the injury front. The Tigers will be without their Gabonese striker Daniel Cousin who is suffering with a troublesome back injury.

Hull City boss Phil Brown will be hoping that influential skipper Ian Ashbee will be able to return to action after sitting out the FA Cup quarterfinal against Arsenal and the 1-0 loss to Wigan.

Hull City's Welsh international defender Sam Ricketts, who limped out of the game against Germany mid week will also be able to take his place in the Hull City starting lineup.

The Tiger's boss will also be buoyed by the return of Kamil Zayette, Andy Dawson and Michael Turner who have all been suffering from niggling injuries. However, Anthony Gardner (back), Jimmy Bullard (knee) and George Boateng (knee) will not be fit for action.

Brown has been playing up the importance of the remaining game for the Tigers this week. He told the Hull Daily Mail this week that, "We're going into tomorrow knowing full well that if we win three of our last eight games we will be okay. We want to win those three games as soon as possible as the pressure then begins to mount on those around you instead."

"If we win tomorrow then it takes a lot of pressure off us and puts it all back on Portsmouth and the other teams fighting with us."

"If someone had given me this position where seven teams are worse off than ourselves at this stage of the season, of course we would have accepted it. But we have to make the most of it now."

Phil Brown has also been emphasizing the importance of experience at this end of the table. He stressed that he served under Sam Alladyce whilst at Bolton Wanderers and helped to save them from relegation twice.

He went on to say, "Keeping your composure is the important part."

"The pressure gets cranked up by everybody—the media attention, the focus from your fans—the players will feel it, no doubt about it."

"But a lot of it comes from the manager and the staff and I've got a lot of experience behind me, coupled with my own experiences of the Premier League in these situations."

Will Brown have the experience to help the Tigers overcome a Pompey team that have had a mini revival under the stewardship of Paul Hart?

The FA are receiving evidence on Monday from Hull City representatives regarding the allegations Phil Brown made after the FA Cup tie at The Emirates. Brian Horton has re-appeared and it looks like they will get their "evidence" to the FA before the deadline.

Hull City chairman Paul Duffen is quoted as saying, "There's no question in my mind that Brian Horton, Phil Brown, and the coaching staff and players saw something happen that evening. I have absolutely no doubt something took place and I'm sure the inquiry will find out all those facts and details."

Fabregas, however, when asked if he was confident that he would be cleared by the FA, replied, "For me it is closed already—I have nothing to say; I'm very happy. I'm going to play football again and that's the most important thing."

What is patently obvious is that there is no TV footage, or CCTV footage available. There are two sides to this, Arsenal's and Hull's. One man's word against another's.

What is so sad about this whole affair is that as soon as Hull City had made these accusations and as soon as they realised that it was not going to end there, they  started back-peddling furiously.

First the disappearance of Brian Horton and now the comments of chairman Paul Duffen, which would appear to say that he wants the two clubs to "shake hands and make up."

"If there was an accommodation between the football clubs, that would be an elegant way of moving forward. This is nothing to do with anything other than an incident which has been picked up and followed through by the regulatory authorities and we are, therefore, co-operating with that fully."

"If there could be an easier way of moving forward which was less of a drama, then of course we would be happy with that."

In the second line of the quote, Duffen is intimating that there is nothing personal in all this. This is in sharp contrast to the “That’s what their club is about” quote from Phil Brown on Setanta Sports that evening. That sounds pretty personal to me.

Also laughable is the attempt to try to blame the FA for creating this whole debacle. In the heat of the moment, Phil Brown made some comments which I am sure that he wishes privately that he hadn't.

This personal attack on a player, his credibility, his dress sense, and his club, would be the last straw for some players. Especially young players playing in a foreign country. This would almost be enough to make a player seek new pastures.

Interesting then that the bastion of reliable sports news, "The News Of The World," has reported that Cesc is arrogant, hated by the other players, and, yes you guessed it, leaving in the summer.

The NOTW take is that Spanish giants Barcelona have been feeding the Spanish press stories of Cesc's supposed persecution at the Emirates, leading to his wanting to leave.

It is also strenuously asserted that since returning victorious from UEFA '08, Fabregas has been "swaggering" around, much to the annoyance of his teammates, many of who can't wait to see the back of him.

The NOTW end their piece with a comment that he would consider the £90,000 he would likely be offered in his contract negotiations as not enough, making him sound greedy without offering any evidence of it.

Interestingly, the allegations revolve around the comments of an "Arsenal Insider," so the article is safe. When it all turns out to be hog's wash, the NOTW can blame the "Insider" instead of having to admit they made it all up.

So how does all this affect Cesc Fabregas? Well, in a week he will be fit and playing again. He will slide back into the team and provide the rangy passes and playmaking that he is famous for. He is the captain of Arsenal and he will act like a captain. He will lead his team in the three competitions Arsenal are still contending.

As for the move to Spain, Cesc is reliably quoted as having said that he is happy at Arsenal and that his future is linked to Arsene Wenger. Arsene will surely sign a new contract before next season, and I can't see any reason why Cesc won't follow suit.

Hull City started the '08/'09 season so promisingly. Victories at White Hart Lane and more notably, the Emirates Stadium underlined the fact that they were a force to be reckoned with.

Unfortunately for them, the word "were" is the most important word in that sentence. Once flying high in the league, they have now won one of their last 13 games. If that isn't relegation form, I don't know what is.

Their desperation can also be seen from their manager Phil Brown apparently clutching at straws after their recent FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, trying to deflect attention from his team. 

He accused Cesc Fabregas of spitting at his assistant manager (a claim which has not been backed up by any solid proof), and said that Arsene Wenger refused to shake his hand in the two league fixtures prior to the FA Cup encounter.

The latter of the claims has since been proven to be false, as video footage of the two matches clearly show Wenger and Brown exchanging handshakes at the final whistle.

Although Hull City seem to be well-positioned in the league, safe in 13th place, a closer inspection of the table will reveal that they are actually only four points from the relegation zone.

With 40 points being usually enough to guarantee safety, Hull City should be safe if they can get at least seven points from their remaining eight matches. However, that is a very big "if."

Here's why:

Apr. 4

Hull City vs Portsmouth

Portsmouth are themselves not out of relegation trouble. With 32 points and a game in hand over the other relegation candidates, they need the points as much as Hull do. The big difference is that Portsmouth are on their way up, while Hull are in free-fall. Man-for-man, Hull are no match for Pompey.

Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson and Sean Davis are all playing very well at the moment, and their performance against Everton last week certainly shows they are up for the battles. Even with home advantage, the most I can see Hull getting is one point.

Prediction: One point

Apr. 11

Middlesbrough vs Hull City

Another relegation candidate. Middlesbrough have to win their home games to try and stay in the Premier League, and home games do not come much easier than against Hull City.

This is a crucial match, as anything other than a Boro win will see the likes of Plymouth and Crystal Palace visiting the Riverside Stadium next season. I fancy Boro to win here, but the best Hull can manage away from home is a point.

Prediction: One point

Apr. 18

Sunderland vs Hull City

Another away game, another relegation candidate. Sunderland are right below Hull, and with home advantage, the situation again looks bleak for Hull City. With Kenwyne Jones back to full fitness, Sunderland have a decent strikeforce of Djibril Cisse supporting Kenwyne Jones.

This should be bad news for a defence that is the second-worst in the league, letting in 52 goals in 30 games. I fancy Sunderland to pick up a home win here.

Prediction: Zero points

Apr. 25

Hull City vs Liverpool

Is any analysis really needed here? Liverpool need the points to push Manchester United to the wire. The 2-2 draw back at Anfield will also mean Liverpool are likely to take Hull seriously this time. Three points for the Reds.

Prediction: Zero points

May 2

Aston Villa vs Hull City

Aston Villa have way too much quality and pace for Hull City to handle. The midfield of Barry, Petrov and Sidwell will totally overwhelm whatever combination Phil Brown can think of. Away from home as well, Hull City don't have a ghost of a chance.

Prediction: Zero points

May 9

Hull City vs Stoke City

Another relegation candidate. This time, being at home, Hull City will be thinking of getting a win, and will probably look to attack Stoke.

However, Stoke City just seem to be made of sterner stuff than Hull, and will definitely make use of the long throws to unsettle a leaky backline and an unconvincing goalkeeper. I do not see Stoke getting beaten here.

Prediction: Zero point

May 16

Bolton Wanderers vs Hull City

Usually, this would be a walk in the park for Bolton, who do seem to be distancing themselves from the other relegation candidates with some of their players being on fire at the right time.

Kevin Davies is the second-highest English scorer in the league, and Bolton just seem to be pulling themselves together at the right time. By May 16th though, Bolton might already be safe, and if complacency creeps into their game, Hull City might sneak a point.

Prediction: One point

May 24

Hull City vs Manchester United

This match depends on whether the title has already been sewn up. If it hasn't, then Hull City will be on the end of a heavy beating, as there is no way Manchester United will let Hull City prevent them from a title.

If it has been sewn up, then Hull City might well sneak a draw, but will it be enough?

Prediction: One point

Total tally: 5 points + 33 points = 38 points

Overall, I certainly do not see Hull getting enough points to stay up, and I think they will go down. You can count them unlucky, as Jimmy Bullard would have added steel and creativity to their midfield, but then he got injured for the rest of the season shortly after signing for them.

The truth is, though, that their team is just not good enough to stay up. Their performances early on in the season were probably possible because opposing teams had not viewed them as a threat, and their confidence spurred them on to victory after victory.

Once the league's teams sat up and took notice, they began to get outplayed regularly.

To end this off, I recommend any readers out there to consider a punt on Hull City to get relegated. Odds for this to happen are very good, at 3.75 at bet365. That's close to $4 for a dollar staked, and is top value.

Well the British media has set out it's stall and it's new target of derision is none other than Hull City's very own Phil Brown.

It's funny how the British media is so fickle. When Hull City burst on the scene last May as the winners of the Championship Playoffs, Hull City where roundly touted as the team to be instantly relegated.

However, there were plenty of plaudits for the man in charge, one Phil Brown. A self-made man who had been on the footballing scrap heap twice only to rise like a phoenix from the ashes.

First as a player, where he retrained as an electrician as he saw his dream of professional football disappear.

Then as a manager, as he failed to resurrect the financially mis-managed Derby County from the ashes, he was dumped by the wayside only to be thrown a lifeline by Hull City.

This in the shape of a coaching role with the Tigers under Phil Parkinson at the wrong end of the Championship.

Parkinson was let go soon after as he couldn't manage to turn the disaster of a season around but the reigns were passed to Brown and the rest, as they say, is history.

So after only a year in charge, Phil Brown dragged the perennial under achievers Hull City kicking and screaming into the top flight of World Football. No mean feat as the club had been trying to do that very same thing for over a century, with only a fleeting glimpse of the prize to show for all the effort.

As the club's first season started to unfold it was clear that Phil Brown's Hull City were not going to go down without a fight. The club was not going to meekly "do a Derby" and lose by five goals a game and foul the opposition off the face of the pitch as many "so-called pundits" had predicted.

This Hull City side of Phil Brown's could actually play some good football. They were tenacious, talented and had a point to prove. The spine of Phil Brown's 'Tigers' were made up of players that had been with the club from the fourth tier of English Football.

However, it was the addition of some very hungry talent, a dash of experience, and a few risks on injury prone players that blended into a Phil Brown "team" that could actually compete with the big boys of English football.

Phil Brown almost instantly became a darling of the English sporting media. Almost because it wasn't until the victory against Arsenal at their Ashburton Grove stadium that they really sat up and took note.

But as anyone who has witnessed the British press in action will tell you, it loves to put its new darling on a pedestal just so it can take pot shots at them.

It did it with Eric Cantona, David Beckham, Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson, and every England manager since the 1966 World Cup final. Phil Brown won't be the last but what the other club managers have that Phil Brown doesn't is a stable base to work with.

Hull City may be a great local club with a fantastic chairman in Paul Duffen, but if the media undermine the great and difficult job that Phil Brown has done at Hull City, it doesn't matter if he manages to keep the Tigers in the Premiership.

The fickle fans of football will turn their heads away from Hull City and Phil Brown and find a new media manufactured favourite to love.

So before you start thinking that Phil Brown is some sort of villainous loony tune, just think about where you are getting your information. It may just be a bit of sport for the British gutter press but it could be your manager next.

EPL Preview: Wigan Athletic Vs Hull City, JJB Stadium, Wigan, March 22, 13:30 GMT.

In the dim and distant past, the meeting of Wigan and Hull would have been either a lower-league affair or a top flight game of Rugby League, but things have changed in the M62 corridor.

Now any match involving Wigan and Hull is top flight Premiership football. No longer Wigan vs. Hull FC or Hull Kingston Rovers but Wigan Athletic and Hull City.

The first meeting between the clubs this season saw Wigan come out on top, scoring five goals from only four attempts on goal at the KC Stadium in Hull.

The man of the moment was Amr Zaki, the Egyptian international who threw his hat in the ring to be the bargain find of the season for Steve Bruce's men.

It was also a big moment for the Tigers. It was the first game in which that they had to pit their wits with the majority of their Championship Playoff winning team.

The only new name on the team sheet that day was the mercurial little Brazilian Geovanni, but the rest of the Hull City team had played in the Play-off final.

The radical changes to the Tigers were due to injuries of two key players—Anthony Gardner and George Boateng—and a loan agreement between Wigan and Hull City for Marlon King, who wasn't allowed to play against his parent club.

The game saw a fundamental change in fortunes for the Tigers after the defeat. It instilled a new understanding of just how harsh the Premiership can be to the new boys on the block.

It also saw the Tigers go on a six-game winning streak that left them with 20 points, level with Chelsea and Liverpool in joint first place.

Today's game will be very different between the two sides. Hull has slipped down the table after the first refreshing forays in the Premiership, and Wigan has solidified their position as an upper mid table Premiership team.

However, if Hull City can claim a win today, it will see them seven points clear of 18th placed Newcastle United.

If Wigan claim the full three points, it will see them rise to seventh in the table, within striking distance of the European places.

Steve Bruce will be hoping that the Latics' influential Antonio Valencia

—despite a long-term hamstring injury—will be fit for the visit or the Tigers. However, he will also be without Lee Cattermole, who is still serving a four-match ban.

Hull City are without their Captain, Ian Ashbee, who is out due to a hamstring injury, as well as George Boateng and Jimmy Bullard, whose injuries are long term.

Phil Brown will be hoping that both centre backs Michael Turner and Anthony Gardner who are 50/50, will pass late fitness tests.

The Tigers will also see Dean Marney return after suspension and Kevin Kilbane could come back into face his old club after been cup tied against Arsenal mid-week.

Arsenal reached the semi finals of the FA Cup last night with a 2-1 victory over Hull City, but once again the Tigers caused problems at the Emirates.

The game itself was poor. Arsenal gave the ball away on a number of occasions and reverted to playing the long ball over the top, assuming that Van Persie was going to get on the end of them and stick the ball into the back of the net.

Hull though in their usual fashion fought throughout the game and took the lead after Nicky Barmby's shot deflected off Johan Djourou to beat the despairing arm of Fabianski. To be honest after this it looked as though Hull were going to close out the game.

Giovanni's free kick troubled the Gunners, forcing Fabianski to save brilliantly and then Barmby had the ball in the back of the net again after he turned in Dawson's shot. Barmby though to Arsenal's relief was offside.

The second half was rather different. Arsenal dominated and created a number of chances. Hull's Sam Ricketts frustrated Arshavin with a number of spectacular blocks and then Van Persie headed the Russians corner against the bar.

Twenty minutes to go and it was time for a change. Bendter and Nasri came on and the Gunners looked far better spreading the ball across the park. And it was the Dane who created the equaliser. After a miss kick, Bendter forced his way towards goal and crossed to find Arshavin who calmly set up Van Persie for a relieved goal.

After a couple of high fives, Arsenal were back on the attack and in the last ten minutes, former skipper, William Gallas put the Gunners on their way to Wembley.

So were Hull unlucky to lose?

Well not really no. Although it was an awful game and Hull showed the fight and spirit only worthy of an FA Cup tie, Arsenal were professional in their approach. Although they were unconvincing at times, the Gunners won due to their continuous pressure and at the end of the day their quality.

Phil Brown's comments at the end of the game were controversial. Whether or not Fabregas did spit at his assistant is a story for another day.