A bottom of the table clash with major significance takes place at the KC stadium on Saturday afternoon when Hull City meet Burnley. For Hull City this is supposed to be the easiest stop off on their run in, with them meeting much of the league’s top sides, but a visit from a severely relegation threatened club is never an easy task. This is last chance saloon for Burnley, nothing less than a win on Saturday will work towards them miraculously getting another year in the top flight. Eight points separate the two sides from 20th to 17th, so a Hull draw or victory would condemn Sean Dyche and his men to the Championship, so it is safe to say expect a proper scrap on Saturday with both teams having as much to lose as they have to gain.
Team News
Hull City will be anxiously waiting on whether their trio of David Meyler, Mohammed Diame and Curtis Davies will be fit for inclusion in the Burnley clash. All 3 are scheduled for return in 2 days but that may be too soon for a return to the match day squad. The only long term injury is still that of summer signing Robert Snodgrass.
Burnley will be without long term injuries Dean Marney (6 months) and Kevin long (5 months). The away support will be hopeful that Sam Vokes’ scheduled return in two days is accurate and that he will be able to play a part in what is their crunch game of the season.
Interesting Statistics
- Last time the two sides met at the KC stadium was in the Championship and Burnley won 1-0
- In 28 previous meetings at Hull Burnley have won as many games as the home side. Both have won 11 with the other 6 ending in a draw.
- Five of the last six league meetings between Hull City and Burnley have ended with a 1-0 scoreline.
- Just seven players have scored a goal for Burnley in the Barclays Premier League this season; a lower spread than at any other club.
- Ahmed Elmohamady has started every single one of Hull’s 73 Premier League matches since their return to the top flight
- Hull City have never won a Barclays Premier League match in the month of May. They have drawn 3 and loss 7.
Key Players
Hull City: Dame N’Doye
The January signing for the Humberside club has played his part in their safety bid. His 5 goals in his 12 appearances have been needed with injury trouble throughout the season to their frontline. If he is to keep with that form and find the net against Burnley he could secure himself a space among Hull City favourites as that relegation area only seems to get tighter and 3 points against a team also involved in that fight will be invaluable. Goals win games and N’Doye was signed to score goals and win games. Burnley at home is a game that he was signed to that type of business.
Burnley: Tom Heaton
Burnley are at a breaking point, they cannot afford to be beaten on Saturday. They need to win and they will need one of their top performers this season to perform again. Tom Heaton has impressed in goal for Burnley this season, his 7 clean sheets are testament to that. Burnley will need a big away day performance from their keeper where they are likely to be put under pressure by a battling home side. If Heaton can keep the opposition out at his end the onus will again be on the attackers to put the game to bed up top, which has been their struggle as of late. Burnley look like a team that are fighting against a heavy wind, but that does not mean that they won’t fight till the final whistle every week and Tom Heaton is man that can give them a fighting chance in any contest they find themselves in. That includes Hull City away.
Prediction
The beauty of a game like this is it is difficult ot predict. You would expect this to be the match Hull have been most looking forward to mixed within their star-studded run in schedule. However, an animal is always most dangerous when backed into a corner and right now Burnley have been backed to the edge of a cliff and they will need to fight tooth and nail or be shoved of the edge, plummeting towards the Championship. Hull City had picked up successive victories before defeat to Arsenal, meanwhile Burnley haven’t won since their shock victory over Man City in March. I expect Burnley to battle hard but the quality hasn’t been there in recent weeks, especially from their main goal threat Danny Ings. I can see Hull putting the final nail in their coffin and edging nearer to safety.
