Bolton v Hull City preview

15 May 2009 11:09
Hull City have the unwanted experience of taking on Bolton as a bottom-three club this weekend. Roll back to the last time these two clubs met on 8th November and the Tigers came unstuck against the Trotters, but Phil Brown's men were still in dreamland sitting sixth in the Premier League table. But as 2008 drew to an end, reality kicked in and since then Hull have been in utter freefall which has resulted in their worst league position of their first-ever top-flight campaign. Nosedived Since Brown's infamous half-time team talk on the pitch against Manchester City on Boxing Day, Hull's form has nosedived and they enter heir last away game of the term in the relegation zone after Newcastle's derby win over relegation rivals Middlesbrough on Monday. Brown, who returns to his former stomping ground, has seen his side capitulate in 2009. With only 14 points achieved from their last 27 league fixtures - the greatest slump in the Premier League's history - the ex-Bolton assistant will be desperate for his Hull outfit to claim maximum points at the Reebok before a home date with champions-elect Manchester United. Team newsThe Tigers will have to do without the services of winger Bernard Mendy, who will miss Saturday's crucial clash against his former club. The Frenchman, who played for the Trotters in 2002, has been ruled out of the trip to the Reebok Stadium after scans revealed a hairline fracture of the toe. Defender Kamil Zayatte is in the reckoning despite suffering a head injury in last week's defeat by Stoke. Striker Caleb Folan is suspended while captain Ian Ashbee (knee), Jimmy Bullard (knee) and Anthony Gardner (back) are all long-term casualties. Bolton, who have had the lightest schedule of any top division club this term, have midfielder Ricardo Gardner ruled out of their final two matches of the season after failing to recover from a hamstring injury. Gardner has not played since coming off injured in the defeat at Portsmouth on 18th April and with Wanderers all-but safe from relegation there is no need to rush the Jamaican back. Another week's training means defender Danny Shittu could make the squad after a calf injury as the Trotters look to break the cycle of three consecutive draws with a win in their final home game. Possible starting XIs Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, Cahill, A O'Brien, Samuel, K Davies, Muamba, Cohen, McCann, Taylor, Elmander. Hull City: Myhill, Ricketts, Turner, Zayatte, Dawson, Geovanni, Marney, Boateng, Kilbane, Fagan, Cousin.

Source: SKY_Sports