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Hull City v Leicester City Preview | Team News, Stats and Key Men

On December 28th, Leicester City travel to the KC Stadium to take on Hull City.  Leicester are desperate for points in this one. The Foxes have collected only 10 points this season and sit six points behind the Tigers in 17th.  Hull crawled out of the relegation zone on Boxing Day with a 3-1 win over Sunderland.  Hull could create a gap between themselves and the relegation zone with a win here and will be desperate to use the momentum from their 3-1 win to start a winning run.  The Christmas period is a time where teams in the relegation scrap can separate themselves from the rest of the pack.  Both teams will be desperate for the three points and help themselves in their campaign for safety.

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Team News

Both teams will have near full strength teams in this fixture.  Hull will be without Scottish full-back Andrew Robertson who is out with a hamstring injury.  Mo Diame and Michael Dawson will both be out for at least another few weeks with a knee injury and a hamstring injury respectively.

The Tigers will also be without summer signing Robert Snodgrass as he continues to recover from his long term knee injury.  Nigel Person will be unable to select his first choice goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, after he suffered a broken metatarsal earlier this month.  Mathew Upson will also be without with a knee injury, while striker Chris Wood is a game time decision as he recovers from an illness.

Interesting Statistics

  • Leicester City have the second worst away record in the Premier League as well as the joint worst goal difference in the Premier League.
  • Leicester have not won a match since September 21st and the 5-3 victory over Manchester United.
  • Nigel Pearson’s men have only picked up one point since October fourth.
  • Hull’s win over Sunderland was their first win since October fourth.
  • In the all time head to head Hull have the advantage winning 27 of the 69 matches.
  • Leicester have won 22 of the matches vs Hull with the other 20 ending in draws.

Key Men

Hull City: Gaston Ramirez

With two struggling teams, a player who can create one moment of match-winning magic can be the difference.  Gaston Ramirez, while not always consistent, is a player that can create a magic moment.  The Uruguayan scored his first goal for Hull against Sunderland.  He has created a chance every 61 minutes for Hull this season and has created 50% of his take ons.  The man on loan from Southampton has the ability to create chances from nothing with his ability to not only beat a man with a dribble but also pick a killer ball.  Ramirez isn’t the most consistent player, but he has the quality to pick the lock of the Leicester defence and win Hull a crucial three points.

Leicester City: Leonardo Ulloa

Leicester have struggled to score this season, being shut out in nine of their 18 matches.  Leonardo Ulloa has been Leicester’s only consistent goalscorer and is the only Leicester player with more than two goals this season.  The Argentine has scored Leicester’s only two goals in their last four matches.  Nigel Pearson will need his record signing to go on a serious run of form if they are to be rescued from the bottom of the table.  Ulloa will be the prime candidate to score the goals the foxes need to stay in the division.

Prediction

Leicester have been terrible over the last few months and there has been little to no evidence to suggest that they will turn themselves around against Hull.  Hull will hope their win against fellow relegation candidates Sunderland can help spring them into a good run of form.  Hull stayed in the division last season because they beat the teams in and around them.  The Tigers can create a nine point gab between themselves and Leicester with a win.  I think Hull will get that win and send Leicester into the new year with only 10 points.

thejerseyfitz
thejerseyfitz
Follow me on twitter @The_Jersey_Fitz.
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