3rd april 2010: Stoke City - Hull City

STOKE CITY
Stoke City, safe for another season in the top flight, host a Hull City team looking for a second straight win with the aim to move out of the bottom three.
Great momentum for stoke that is looking for the last points to call themselves safe from relegation: “If we can get to 40 points [Stoke are 10th with 39] that is definitely safe. We finished 12th last year with 45 points. It would be lovely to get 46 points. To reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and to beat that tally would be a real good season for us.” - Pulis said.

Team news
Ryan Shawcross remains doutbful with an ankle injury while Abdoulaye Faye and Dave Kitson both suffered knee problems in the victory against West Ham United.
Midfielder Dean Whitehead is available again after suspension with Pulis looking for his side to top the 40-point mark.

Overall form: DWDDWLDDLW
Home form: WDLWDWDLDL

HULL CITY
Iain Dowie tasted victory in his first home match Hull City manager as the Tigers gave their survival hopes a major boost with three points against Fulham at the KC Stadium.
Starting second from bottom and on a run of five consecutive defeats, Hull knew time was running out for them to turn things around.

Team news
Sonko's place is likely to be taken by Andy Dawson after he returned to training following a hamstring injury while Caleb Folan (knee) and Bernard Mendy (illness) are also fit.
Stephen Hunt is still struggling with a foot problem and is unlikely to feature while youngster Liam Cooper (ankle) was due to be given a run-out in the reserves this week but broke his nose in training.
Amr Zaki (knee) is still sidelined and Ian Ashbee, Kamil Zayatte (both knee) and Anthony Gardner (ankle) are long-term absentees.

Overall form: LDDWLLLLLW
Away form: DLLDDLLLLL

HEAD TO HEAD
29/11/2008 Stoke 1-1 Hull

VERDICT
On the paper Stoke can win this match: the team are just few point away from the safe zone of the table and a good trend of results. The danger will be on the under-evaluation of the opponent, Hull is hungry of results and they come from a victory over Fulham.
It's all about how stoke will play this game, if they rest on their past result and let Hull do the game the result could be an upset. So take home victory if you really think Stoke will play to win.