Hull City v Cardiff City Match preview

14 September 2013 08:07
Saturday 3:00pm, from The KC Stadium.

Hull manager Steve Bruce has a doubt over goalkeeper Allan McGregor for the visit of fellow Barclays Premier League newcomers Cardiff on Saturday.

McGregor missed Scotland's World Cup qualifiers this month with a groin problem and is not a certainty to have recovered, but Sone Aluko (hamstring) should be fine.

Maynor Figueroa was the last member of the club's international players to return, having represented Honduras, but loan signing Gedo has yet to receive his visa.

David Marshall is a doubt for Cardiff.

The goalkeeper suffered a hip injury while on international duty with Scotland, and manager Malky Mackay will turn to back-up Joe Lewis should Marshall not recover in time to play a part at the KC Stadium.

Peter Odemwingie could be in line for his Bluebirds debut following his transfer deadline day move from West Brom.

Hull fans on the pitch as they clinch promotion on the final day

Steve Bruce:

“It’s a big game for us, but I’m sure they’ll say the same. Cardiff came up with us and they’ll have put it down as one of their fixtures to get something from,

“Cardiff are a good side and they proved to be the best side in the Championship last year. Since then they’ve added to their squad well, spent a lot of money to improve and they’re going to make a big fist of it.

“Talk about must-win games...it’s against opposition who you think will be around you at the end of the season. If you can turn those teams over it’s a big feather in your cap and can help you enormously.

“We identified the first four or five home games. For any side in the bottom half it’s about ‘can you pick up the points at home?’

“But Cardiff won the Championship at a canter and they’ve added well. They’ll be difficult to beat but the way we have played so far has encouraged us.”

Malky Mackay:

“I’m not sure that we are favourites.

“Maybe the top four or five in the division are favourites when they go away, but I don’t think anyone else in this league can be rated that way when they travel, particularly the new boys.

“We won’t be favourites in any away game.

“Both Hull and ourselves are new to the division of course, but I think Hull have started well. They’ve looked comfortable and I thought they were excellent against Manchester City. Steve Bruce is a good man, I look forward to seeing him and he’s done well with his team.

“We know each other very well. We relish it, but we know how tough a task we are going to have going to their place.

“We’ll just be approaching it in our normal fashion and approach it with the importance it deserves. It’s going to be tough.”

Source: Cardiff City Online

Source: FOOTYMAD