Hull v Tottenham
PREMIER LEAGUEVenue: KC Stadium Date: Monday, 23 February Kick-off: 2000
Hull have Ian Ashbee, Daniel Cousin, Caleb Folan and Anthony Gardner returning to availability.
But Craig Fagan is sidelined after undergoing knee surgery.
Tottenham trio Robbie Keane, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka are back in the squad after being cup-tied against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Luka Modric, Jonathan Woodgate, Wilson Palacios, Aaron Lennon and Carlo Cudicini were rested for the trip but are also back in contention.
Hull captain Ian Ashbee: "It is a big week for the club, no question.
"Both Tottenham and Blackburn are around us and we are at home. We want to try to put performances in at home.
"Hopefully we can do that and put some distance between ourselves and Tottenham and Blackburn."
Tottenham captain Robbie Keane:"Away from home has been a problem and that is something we have to sort out.
"We certainly have the squad and the attitude to go on and win games. It's up to us to switch that home form to the away form.
"It's important that we push ourselves up the table, we're around the bottom where we don't want to be."
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BIG-MATCH FACTS
While Hull were making a sensational start to their first season in the Premier League under Phil Brown, Tottenham were experiencing a disastrous time under Juande Ramos. Then under Harry Redknapp Spurs improved, while Hull went off the boil. Now only four points separate the pair in mid-table.
Spurs pay their first ever visit to the KC Stadium, looking to end a four-game losing league run away from home.
The Tigers, with the weakest home form in the highest league, are pressing for a first win in 10 Premier League outings (home and away).
Both these clubs registered goalless draws in their last Premier League matches last weekend; Hull at Chelsea, Spurs, home to Arsenal.
Distance between the clubs: 183 miles (295 kilometres)
CLUB FORM
HULL CITY
Club stats
Going into this round of matches: 12th 29 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Drawn the last three in all competitions.
2. Drawn three and lost six of nine Premier League matches.
3. The 2-1 home win over Middlesbrough on 6 December, is their only victory in 16 top-flight games.
4. Won one of six home league and cup games; 2-0 against Millwall in the fourth round of the FA Cup on 24 January.
5. Only beaten Fulham, West Ham and Middlesbrough in home league games this season.
6. Lost 10 of the 15 league matches in which they've conceded the opening goal.
7. Not lost a top-flight match in which they've opened the scoring; won four and drawn five of nine.
8. Lost only two of their 10 matches against bottom-half clubs; both at home to Bolton and Sunderland.
9. Won their first four Premier League matches against London clubs, but only picked up one point out of the 12 available since, failing to score in three of those last four games against clubs from the capital.
10. This match precedes a fifth round FA Cup replay against Sheffield United at the KC Stadium on Thursday.
Fixtures
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Club stats
Going into this round of matches: 16th 25 points
Best & Worst categories in 2008-09 Premier League(all statistics are ahead of this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures)
1. Won one of nine Premier League matches; 3-1, home to Stoke on 27 January.
2. Averaging a point a game.
3. Four points down on this same stage last season. The current total of 25 points after 25 games is their worst return ever to this identical juncture in a Premier League season, and lowest since their first season back in top-fight football in 1978-79.
4. Not lost a Premier League game this season in which they've scored first; won four, drawn one.
5. Lost 12 of the 16 matches in which they've gone behind from the opening whistle.
6. Lost eight of 12 matches against fellow bottom-half clubs, beating only Bolton, Blackburn and Stoke.
7. Beaten only Manchester City and West Ham in league games on the road.
8. Not picked up a point away from White Hart Lane since the 0-2 victory over West Ham at Upton Park on 8 December, which was also their only clean sheet in an away league game this term.
9. This match precedes a Uefa Cup round of 32 second leg tie, home to Shakhtor Donetsk on Thursday. Spurs lost the first leg 2-0 in Ukraine.
Fixtures
KEY PLAYER NOTES
HULL CITY
Squad profiles
Michael TURNER is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Hull's Premier League matches this season.
GEOVANNI is the club's top Premier League scorer with six goals.
Nick BARMBY needs a double to reach 100 club career goals.
If selected:-
BARMBY will be facing the club where he was trainee. The 35 year old England international made 108 appearances (87 in the league) and scored 27 goals (20 league) for Spurs before joining Middlesbrough in August 1995.
Anthony GARDNER will be facing former colleagues. The 28 year old England defender made 144 appearances (114 in the league) and scored three goals (two league) for Spurs between January 2000 and his permanent move to Hull last August.
Dean MARNEY will also be opposing the club where he began his professional career. The 25 year old midfielder made 11 appearances (eight in the league) and scored two league goals before arriving at the KC Stadium in July 2006.
If selected:-
MARNEY will be making his 100th league appearance in a Hull shirt.
Ryan FRANCE will be making his 150th appearance for the Tigers.
If on the field from the outset:-
Andy DAWSON will be making his 400th club career start (Nottingham Forest, Scunthorpe and Hull).
Sam RICKETTS will be making his 100th league start in Hull colours.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Squad profiles
If selected:-
Jonathan WOODGATE will be making his 50th appearance in a Tottenham jersey.
Loanee FRAIZER CAMPBELL from Manchester United, will be playing against the club he was on loan to last season.
If on the field from the outset:-
Robbie KEANE will be making his 400th English league start (Wolves, Coventry, Leeds, Tottenham and Liverpool).
HEAD TO HEAD
Hull are aiming to complete a first ever double over Tottenham, having won 0-1 at the Lane in October, with a deadly Geovanni free kick.
The last time Tottenham visited Hull they lost 2-0 at Boothferry Park on 4 October 1977 in the old Second Division. It was in Spurs' last season outside the top-flight.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Hull 6 wins, Spurs 5, Draws 4Prem: Hull 1 win, Spurs 0, Draws 0
at Hull onlyLeague (inc PL): Hull wins, Spurs , Draws Prem: Hull 0 wins, Spurs 0, Draws 0
THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Hull City5 October 2008 - Ref: Rob Styles Hull scorer: Geovanni 9
REFEREE
Lee Probert (Gloucestershire)
