On the back of a 7-0 win over non-league Gateshead in the FA Cup last weekend, Tony Pulis takes charge of his first league game as West Bromwich Albion boss as Hull City travel to The Hawthorns.
Having steered Crystal Palace to safety last season, the hope is that Pulis will do the same at West Brom, who have slumped to 17th in the table, losing seven of their last 10 games.
Top scorer Saido Berahino will look to add to his tally of 13 goals this season, one of which came when the two sides met in the Capital One Cup back in September.
Steve Bruce shuffled his pack at the weekend as Hull lost in a repeat of last year’s FA Cup final against Arsenal, and will hope key players return fresher as the Tigers seek to build on an excellent win over Everton on New Year’s Day.
Hull themselves are by no means clear of danger, sitting just two points clear of the relegation zone, but a third away win of the season would give them breathing space and provide a real statement of intent.
KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
Hull 0 West Brom 0, Premier League, December 2014
West Brom 3 (Brown, McAuley, Berahino) Hull 2 (Ince, Brady), Capital One Cup, September 2014
Hull 2 (Rosenior, Long) West Brom 0, Premier League, March 2014
STATS…
The two sides have met 51 times in all competitions, each winning on 18 occasions.
Hull are unbeaten in six league games against the Baggies.
West Brom have won just one of their last 10 league games.
Hull’s Allan McGregor has saved all three Premier League penalties he has faced, including one in the reverse fixture.
ODDS…
West Brom to win: 2.1
Hull to win: 4.2
Draw: 3.4
TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm
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