Premier League: Hull City v Stoke City preview

A look ahead to this weekend's fixture at the KC Stadium

Steve Bruce and his Hull side take on Stoke on Saturday (GETTY IMAGES)

Hull against Stoke will never be the most glamorous fixture in a Premier League weekend but the managers of both sides have been doing their upmost to change that this season.

Hull are enjoying a steady return to top flight football under Steve Bruce, their comfort at this level underlined by their 3-1 demolition of Liverpool a fortnight ago.

Meanwhile Mark Hughes’ Stoke are slowly freeing themselves of the chains that restricted them tactically under Tony Pulis. They too have recently shown off their new look to the rest of the league with a win over one of the big boys – defeating Chelsea 3-2 last Saturday.

With just one point between them, both sides will see Saturday’s game as a chance to both continue the evolution and pick up valuable points.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 5.30pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Stoke 2 (Fuller, Lawrence) Hull 0, Premier League, April 2010

Hull 2 (Olofinjana, Vennegoor of Hesselink) Stoke 1 (Etherington), Premier League, November 2009

Hull 1 (Dawson) Stoke 2 (Fuller, Lawrence), Premier League, May 2009

STATS…

Hull City’s 27% shot accuracy is the second lowest in the Premier League.

No Stoke or Hull striker is yet to score more than two goals this season.

Danny Graham’s strike on Monday was his first goal for 11 months.

Stoke have only won two away games in 2013.

ODDS…

Hull to win: 2.3

Stoke to win: 3.3

Draw: 3.1

TV: Live on Sky Sports 1 at 5.30pm, highlights on BBC 1 at 10.25pm.