Hull V Aston Villa at The KC Stadium : Match Preview

04 October 2013 16:31
Hull V Aston Villa - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Davies confesses naked ambition

Curtis Davies has vowed to deliver on his promise to streak around the KC Stadium if Hull finish above Manchester United this season, but does not expect the situation to arise.


That the very idea is under discussion says as much about Hull's impressive start to the season as it does about United's troubled transition to life under David Moyes.


The Tigers go into the weekend in eighth place with 10 points from six matches, three points and four spots better than the reigning champions.


"I said last week when I was being interviewed and someone asked 'what's it like to be above Manchester United?' that I'd streak around the KC if we finish above them, but ultimately that's how ridiculous it is at the moment," Davies said.


"I'm not sure I'd get away with it, I might get arrested on way round. It's one of those things that's a bit tongue in cheek, but if we actually did finish above them I guess I'd have to do it.


"We're six games into the season so being above Manchester United is nothing. We've got our own personal table to work towards and as long as we're top of that table that's all that matters."


Davies, who has inherited the captaincy since Robert Koren was ruled out for eight weeks with a broken foot, has been in fine form since signing for the Tigers this summer.


He will lead the side out against former club Aston Villa on Saturday and although his time there ended in disappointment, he does not approach the match with a point to prove.


"I'm just a Hull City player playing another team," he said.


"It would have been different if I'd played against them soon after leaving because there would have been a few team-mates and things like that but it's a totally different regime to when I was there"


Having lost first-choice partner James Chester to a hamstring injury, Davies was partnered by Abdoulaye Faye for last weekend's win over West Ham.


But at 35, Faye may not have the pace to cope with Villa's front line meaning a possible recall for Paul McShane or Alex Bruce.


There will be one other enforced change, with one of Stephen Quinn or George Boyd set to replace top-scorer Robbie Brady, who had a hernia operation in midweek.


Paul Lambert wants his Aston Villa side to make their gritty victory over Manchester City count by securing their third Premier League win in a row.


Villa came from behind twice against their high-profile visitors before striker Andreas Weimann snatched all three points with a surprise winner at Villa Park.


The victory followed a win away to Norwich the previous weekend and put Villa on nine points from six games, having also beaten Arsenal on the opening day.


"I think any win gives you that good feeling and you try not to let it make a difference whether it's over Manchester City or somebody else because you've got to let that one go and move onto the next one," said Lambert.


"But the way we won it, the manner in which we did it, was exceptional.


"The belief here has never wavered, it's always been there. I've never had a problem picking players up after a loss, or keeping their feet on the ground after a win.


"But one thing I know is I'm getting everything out of those lads and I thought they were excellent last week.


"I've never wavered from the way we play. We've always tried to play intense football with energy and we've never changed that since I've been here.


"So it's important to go and try and win matches and if we do that on Saturday then it's three on the bounce that we've won.


"We're playing well enough to go there and win."


Villa have endured a difficult start to the campaign, having already played Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in the opening weeks and sit ninth in the table.


"I'll start looking at the table on the last day of the season," the manager insisted. "You don't need to look at where you are because you've got enough of an idea of what's going on.


"The start we've had has been really tough and we might have had one or two more points than we've actually got.


"But to get that return from the games we've had has been really pleasing so we'll keep going."


Lambert will be without striker Christian Benteke (hip) while defender Jores Okore (cruciate) and midfielder Charles N'Zogbia (Achilles) are long-term absentees.


However, forward Gabriel Agbonlahor (ankle) and midfielder Ashley Westwood (thigh) are in contention to return from recent injuries.


Source: PA