When you’ve just been rolled over four-one at home by a Brian Laws-managed Premier League team, the idea of “bouncebackability” seems too far-fetched even for Iain Dowie.
Hull sit second bottom of the table, with just five league games for their “managerial consultant” to save them from relegation. Given that last weekend was a gilt-edged chance to flex their muscles and flatten a fellow-struggler, the future is looking bleak at the KC Stadium…
Opponents
Hull first travel to Birmingham, a team struggling to find any real form since the turn of the year. From January onwards, Alex McLeish’s side have chalked up only one clean sheet and won just three times in thirteen games.
Nevertheless, Birmingham are difficult to beat at home, having lost just twice at St Andrews, with the last defeat coming in September against Bolton. Although their seven home games in 2010 have produced just the one clean sheet, Big Eck’s side have conceded more than one goal just once. Despite having scored in all seven games, they have still managed just nine in total over the period.
Next up for Dowie’s team is a home tie with Aston Villa. Martin O’Neill’s side showed great spirit in twice coming back from behind against Everton last night but the home draw pretty much put paid to any lingering hope they may have had of finishing fourth.
Villa have been difficult to break down away from home, with the recent seven-one mauling at Chelsea slightly misleading. Indeed, they have actually chalked up three clean sheets in their last five away games, conceding more than one goal once – at Stamford Bridge. They have scored just four goals in those five games, failing to find the net twice.
Current Form
P4 W1 L3 F5 A9
Such is Iain Dowie’s record as Hull boss to date. One win – and one clean sheet – came courtesy of Roy Hodgson’s rotation of a Euro-weary Fulham side. The other results are uninspiring, to say the least. That Fulham game apart, Hull have conceded at least two goals in all the other games. A crumb of comfort? They’ve failed to score in only one of Dowie’s games.
Rotation
Dowie seems to have utilised the majority of Hull’s playing staff over the last few games. Up front, four strikers have been amongst the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points in the four games since Phil Brown‘s departure – Jozy Altidore (two assists), Craig Fagan (1 goal, 1 assist, 1 Bonus Point) Caleb Folan (2 goals, 2 Bonus Points) and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, but there’s no continuity to the new gaffer’s team selection. Surprisingly, in spite of so many changes, there’s been no place for Tom Cairney, the club’s impressive teenage midfielder, since Dowie’s arrival.
The most stability -ironically- lies with the defence and goalkeeper, though in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) terms, their appeal is less than minimal.
Potential Targets
Anyone wishing to predict great things this upcoming double game week for Hull City can expect to be labelled crazy, deluded and/or barking mad. I have -as yet- to be certified insane, so with that in mind, there’s only one person to reasonably consider:
Jimmy Bullard
A major disappointment against Burnley, Bullard has to step away from his recent press overexposure and realise he is the heart of this Hull team. If he plays well, the team’s chances of taking something from this upcoming double (and, resultantly, staying up) increase dramatically.
The club’s main set-piece taker and resident Bonus Point “darling”, Bullard is, quite probably, the one Hull player worthy of a transfer-in this upcoming double game week. Since returning from injury at the start of March, he has picked up six points in three away games, but nineteen in three home games.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 2 Bonus Points
However if Bullard scores, chances are that someone will get an assist. Following on logically (as opposed to recommending)….
Jozy Altidore
Quite simple; Altidore has the most assists since Dowie’s arrival, and is -statistically, at least- the most likely.
Predicted Return: 1 assist