Hull City V Chelsea Preview: Scolari's Men Aim to Get Back on Track at Hull

Ahead of Wednesday’s Premier League clash between Hull City and Chelsea, Alan McGuinness provides you with all you need to know, rounded off as ever with a prediction of the final score.

Initial Thoughts and Points of Interest

So 86 and out it is to be. Liverpool (as much as it pains me to say it) were worth their win and Chelsea looked short of ideas and lack the sparkle and bluster that typified their recent performances against Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

Still, the show must go on. Hull City await for Scolari’s troops, and complacency will prove fatal against a team that has defied expectations and stunned the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham with wins in the capital.

After an ineffectual showing against Liverpool, Kalou, Malouda and Anelka could face the axe, although a look at the bench in recent weeks suggests that Scolari doesn’t really have much to call on in reserve - Didier Drogba is still around a week away from full fitness.

If Scolari is feeling particularly bold he could thrown in Franco Di Santo for his first Chelsea start, but such a prospect seems highly unlikely.

Team News

Hull City: Andy Dawson is expected to feature for the Tigers after recovering from a dead leg.

Chelsea: Joe Cole is expected to make a return from injury for the game, but Wednesday’s clash will come to soon for the likes of Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack.

Hull City (from): Myhill, McShane, Zayatte, Dawson, Ricketts, Marney, Ashbee, Boateng, Geovanni, King, Cousin, Hughes, Dawson, Mendy, Folan, Gardner, Windass, Giannakopoulos, Barmby, Duke.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Hilario, Cudicini, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Malouda, Obi, Deco, Kalou, Bosingwa, Terry, Lampard, Anelka, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Mancienne, Bridge, Di Santo, J Cole.


Recent Form

Hull City: If you had said to Hull City fans that they would be level on points with Chelsea at the end of October they would have laughed in your face. But that is the happy reality that Hull fans find themselves experiencing.

They have already beaten Tottenham and Arsenal away from home and will be looking to complete an astounding treble over Chelsea in this game.

Chelsea: Sunday’s performance wasn’t Chelsea’s best, and it is worth noting that both times Chelsea have come up against a team from the Big Four, they have failed to dazzle.

However, there is plenty of time for the Blues to claw back their position at the top of the league and a win here would be a good start.Quotes

Nearly all of the talk ahead of the game has focused on the end of the unbeaten record.

Assistant first team coach Ray Wilkins believes all the club can do is move on and try to bounce back as soon as possible.

“No one likes being defeated and when you have a group of winners like we have they find it very difficult to take that defeat, so they will be trying doubly hard to make sure the next result is positive,” Wilkins said ahead of the game.

“They are in good spirits, but it is difficult for the lads.

“Petr Cech has been at the club four seasons and hasn't even lost a home game in the league, it's a phenomenal record, but it's gone. A bit of history has been made but it's in the past and we just have to crack on and see if we can make another one.”

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech acknowledges that going 86 league games unbeaten at home is a great achievement, but stresses the need to forget about it and move on.

“Defeat happens in football and you have to forget about it and start again,” said Cech referring to Sunday‘s result.

“Of course it has been a great run, 86 games, I don't think someone can really come close to that in the future because it is a fantastic run.

“But now it is all behind us and we have to think about the game on Wednesday when we go to Hull.

“We have the same number of points and we have to bounce back with a victory.

“We say that with something ending, something new begins, so we hope that is the case here.'

Young winger Scott Sinclair admits he has been shocked by Hull’s form so far this season.

“I've been massively impressed with what they have done, I am quite shocked,” admitted the 19-year-old, who scored his first Chelsea goal in Carling Cup tie against Hull last season.

“I think everyone is, they have the same amount of points as us, so it is certainly not going to be an easy game.

“We've just lost against Liverpool so need to go up there and make sure we get a result.”

Hull City boss Phil Brown admits his side are looking forward to the game - and that confidence is high amongst his players.

"It is a massive game for us because, one, it is the next one and, two, we have won four on the bounce,” said Brown.

"Confidence levels are sky high but what that manifests itself in is us looking forward to the game rather than being frightened.

"At the start of the season people would have been fearing this fixture but now all of a sudden we're not, we're looking forward to it."


Prediction

After Sunday’s disappointing result, I expect Chelsea to fired up and ready to get back to winning ways. Hull will certainly be no pushover, but I expect Chelsea to come out on top. 2-1 Chelsea is my prediction.

Will Chelsea bounce back against Hull? Or will Phil Brown’s men inflict more misery on the West Londoners? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.