Official StokeMAD Match preview: Stoke v Hull

Last updated : 02 April 2010 By Dan Buxton

The Potters host Hull this Saturday in a game that sees two sides hoping to build on wins last weekend.

Stoke sit 11th in the Premier League, are virtually safe, and still have hopes of finishing in the top half. Hull have brought themselves back into the fight to stay up in the Premier League and will be hoping to gain another three points in their quest to hold onto their top flight status.

Stoke have a decent home record this season and have already beaten Arsenal aswell as Manchester City, Blackburn, Burnley, West Ham, Sunderland, Fulham and Portsmouth whilst only losing to Manchester United, Birmingham, Arsenal and Chelsea and Spurs. Hull have had a poor season on the road but now have Iain Dowie in charge and after a first win last weekend will hope to get a win on the road.

In the 30 matches between these sides at Stoke, the Potters have won 14, the visitors 6 and ten have been drawn. Last season when the pair clashed at the Britannia the game ended 1-1. Overall Hull have won 17 times to the Potters 24. Interestingly Hull's 2-1 win over Stoke in November was only the 4th home win in the last 23 games between these sides, and the first in nine games.

The referee is Lee Probert. He took charge as Stoke beat Tottenham 1-0 away this season, aswell as the 4-3 win over Blackpool and the 1-0 defeat to Villa. He has refereed Hull twice this season, a 1-1 away draw at Manchester City and a 1-0 away defeat to Blackburn.

The Met Office report that there will be heavy rain showers, temperatures of 7 degrees celsius, poor visibility and a breezy 6mph wind.

Danny Higginbotham will be making his 100th start for the club if he is picked in the starting XI.

Prediction: Stoke pick up a high tempo from the off and with Hull getting more twitchy as the game goes on Etherington fires a late winner.