Hull City v Swansea: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s Premier League fixture at KC Stadium

Curtis Davies knows ‘they all count’ after his bizarre goal for Hull City last night (Getty Images)

Hull and Swansea may go into this game seven points of the relegation zone, but the reality is that both sides will still be looking over their shoulder. Steve Bruce and Garry Monk’s teams each have 33 points but will feel that they need a further six to be completely safe - especially considering that Crystal Palace, West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland have games in hand.

Hull have taken 22 points from home matches but recently went five games without a win at KC Stadium. Their last match on home soil did result in three points - a 2-0 success over West Brom - but, with Champions League-chasing Arsenal and Everton still to visit the KC, Hull will feel Saturday’s game brings with it the best opportunity to add another home win before the end of the season. Worryingly for Bruce’s side, form his dipped since the turn of the year - with 13 Premier League games yielding only 10 points.

Swansea, meanwhile, haven’t won on their travels in the league since November, though scoring late on to rescue a point at Arsenal and then comfortably beating Norwich last weekend will have raised confidence levels. Wilfried Bony has scored 17 goals in all competitions and comes into this game in form, with four goals in his last three Premier League away games. Michu has recovered from the ankle injury he suffered in December and his return to action is a further boost for Swansea as the season reaches its final stages.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Swansea City 1 (Chico Flores) Hull City 1 (Graham), Premier League, December 2013

Swansea City 1 (Gower) Hull City 1 (Evans), Championship, April 2011

Hull City 2 (Bostock, Ashbee) Swansea City 0, Championship, August 2010

STATS…

Hull haven’t lost at home to Swansea in their last five meetings

In 18 games involving Hull since the turn of the year, both teams have only scored on five occasions

Swansea’s win over Norwich last weekend was their first in six Premier League games

The Swans have kept just three clean sheets in their last 18 league matches

Hull have lost only one of their last five games at KC Stadium in all competitions

ODDS…

Hull City to win: 2.60

Swansea City to win: 2.80

Draw: 3.20

CLASSIC MOMENT/MATCH

Hull City 2-0 Swansea City, August 2010

This game, both teams’ first of the 2010/11 Championship season, was memorable for a John Bostock wonder goal. The then Tottenham loanee, making his Hull debut, picked the ball up just inside the Swansea half, executed a Cruyff turn to escape the clutches of his marker and then smashed an unstoppable 30-yard strike into the top corner to give the hosts a lead which Ian Ashbee doubled after half-time.

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.25pm.