Follow every kick as Hull City take on West Ham United at Kingston Communications Stadium in the Premier League
on 21-Nov-2009, kick off time 15:00
Hull City v West Ham United Live
Hull City face a basement battle with fellow strugglers West Ham United at the KC Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Manager Phil Brown, whose future remains in doubt, will know the importance of picking up maximum points from the clash against the London side. Just one point separates the two at the foot of the table with West Ham sitting inside the relegation zone and Hull just outside it and the game is likely to be an explosive affair. The Tigers have won just twice in their last nine Premier League games and the 2-1 success against Stoke City before the international break was a massive boost and the relief was palpable on Humberside. Gianfranco Zola's men are on an even rockier run having won just one in their last 11 contests as he finds it hard to grab a hold of proceedings at Upton Park. The Hammers, with an English backbone of Robert Green, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole, are certainly under-achieving and the pressure is beginning to mount on their diminutive Italian boss. Brown himself is under media scrutiny and another success could ease some of his pressure with the no-nonsense chairman Adam Pearson back at the club having replaced Paul Duffen at the end of October. Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill (knee) could miss the game while long-term casualty Ian Ashbee (knee ligament tear) is definitely missing. To make matters worse for Zola, he must do without Herita Ilunga and Kieron Dyer (both hamstring) and Cole with his own hamstring injury could miss out after being ruled out of England's friendly game against Brazil last weekend. Dean Ashton (ankle) and Luis Boa Morte (knee) remain long-term absentees. The Tigers beat the Hammers last season 1-0 at the KC Stadium as Brown's men shot out of the blocks following their Championship promotion the season before. Michael Turner, now of Sunderland, scored the only goal of the game, and what Brown would give for a similar result this weekend.
Source: DSG
