Hull City Vs Cardiff City Match Preview | Key Men, Odds & Team News

On September 14th, Cardiff will travel to the KC stadium to take on fellow Premier League new boys Hull City.  This will be the first meeting of the newly promoted teams this season.  Both of these teams were able to secure automatic promotion last season, Cardiff finishing first and Hull second, and will both try to stay up this season.  At the moment, Cardiff have four points and Hull have three with both teams getting all of their points at home.  Cardiff were able to come away with a famous 3-2 victory against Manchester City in their first ever Premier League home game, and have also come away with a 0-0 draw at home to Everton.  Hull came away with their three points against Norwich in their first and only home game this season.   The two teams have never met in the Premier League before.

Team News

Both teams have some injury news to deal with going into the game.  Both Sone Aluko and Abdoulaye Faye are set to return the day of the game.  Aluko is set to play in the game, but it is undetermined whether Faye will be fit to play.  George Boyd and Allan McGregor are both question marks for the game after both had to pull out of the Scotland squad.  Cardiff also have an injury problem with a Scottish goalkeeper, after David Marshall limped off for Scotland against Moldova.  Malky Mackay will also be sweating over new signings Steven Caulker – who picked up an ankle injury on England duty – and Andreas Cornelius, who is dealing with an ankle injury of his own that he aggravated against Accrington in the League Cup. (All injury news from Physioroom.com.)

Hull have played three different formations in their three Premier League games, starting the season with a 4-3-3, then shifting to a 4-2-3-1 in the win over Norwich, which was quickly changed after they went down to 10 men,  and against Manchester City, who they impressed against, despite losing, when they played a 4-4-1-1.  All of this is after playing last season using a 3-5-2, so we will see how Steve Bruce decides to set up his side.  Cardiff will be looking to pick up the first away point(s) for any of the newly promoted sides. Cardiff will be wondering whether to start their new signing – former West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie – or keep the team that has got them four points in the last two games.

Interesting Stats

In the last two years, the home team in the first game between newly promoted teams has won.  These teams have never met before in the Premier League but last season, in the championship, they drew at the KC stadium on the last day of the season and Cardiff won their game at home.  Two years ago Hull did the double over Cardiff in the Championship.  Neither team has scored a goal in a game they did not win so far this season.

Key Players

The key players in this match up are both deep lying midfielders: Gary Medel and Tom Huddlestone.  They could both be huge players in what could be a huge game, for whoever wins, in their quest to stay in the Premier League.

Hull broke their transfer record to sign Huddlestone from Tottenham for £5.25m this summer.  Since coming from Tottenham, Huddlestone has created more chances than anyone else at Hull, creating four chances. Huddlestone has also been accurate with his long balls, completing 12 out of 17, and has been able to win the ball back for Hull in the middle of the park, with 13 interceptions in the middle third and has made six interceptions.  Huddlestone has the ability to put balls into the box, and completed 39 % of his crosses last season for Spurs.  Both teams may be cautious in this game, not wanting to lose a six-pointer early in the season, and Huddlestone’s ability to put in long balls and crosses into the box, along with his ability to turn defence into attack, could end up being a huge factor in the game.

Cardiff signed Gary Medel from Sevilla this summer for £11m – smashing their transfer record for a third time this summer.  Cardiff signed Medel as someone who would sit in front of the back four, break up play, spray passes out to attackers, and live up to his nickname “pitbull” by putting in some crunching challenges.  Medel is an experienced international, making 52 caps for Chile, and not the kind of player Cardiff usually buys; but, with their rich owner, they are trying to splash the cash to help them stay up. Medel has completed an impressive 91% of his passes from open play and 34% have been forward.  Medel is also adept at keeping the ball, only losing it  every 17 minutes.  He, like Huddlestone, will be big if he can turn defence into attack in this game.  So far this season, has won the ball back 17 times and has completed 85% of his passes in the attacking half and 72% of his passes in the final third.

Betting Odds

Early season games, between possible relegation fodder, are usually played cautiously since no team wants to lose a six-pointer, especially not this early in the season.  Hull are the home team, making them the favorites at 2.46 to win, and will want to protect their ground and make the KC the reason they can stay up, by making it a fortress.  The odds are the same for a Cardiff win or a draw, both at 3.26.  This game seems set up, for one where neither team wants to lose and it seems like a draw is likely.

Final Wrap Up

Injuries: Faye (Game time decision), George Boyd (Game time decision), Allan McGregor (Game time decision), David Marshall (Game time decision), Steven Caulker (Game time decision),  Andreas Cornelious (Game time decision).

Prediction: 0-0 Draw

Pinnacle Sports Betting Odds

2.46 Hull City to Win- £10 bet wins you £24.60 (includes initial £10 bet)

3.27 Cardiff City to Win- £10 bet wins you £32.70 (includes initial £10 bet)

3.25 Draw- £10 bet wins you £32.50 (includes initial £10 bet)