The season's surprise package, Hull City, were given a reality check by Chelsea on
Wednesday, crashing to a 0-3 defeat, after four straight victories, and dropped out
of the top four.
Now just three days later, Phil Brown's Play-Off winners face another of the title
contenders in defending champions Manchester United at Old Trafford, who are pursuing
their 400th Premier League victory - all under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Red Devils returned to winning ways midweek, after being held by Everton at
Goodison Park, beating West Ham at the Theatre of Dreams with two unanswered
Cristiano Ronaldo goals.
United are unbeaten at home; the Tigers undefeated away from home.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side, who are eight points off the pace with a game in hand,
are vying for a fourth successive home victory.
City are in danger of suffering successive defeats for the first time ever in top-flight
football, but cross the Pennines in search of a fifth straight league win on the road.
Hull's only victory at Old Trafford was 0-2 in the third round of the FA Cup on
12 January 1952, when they were in the lower reaches of the Second Division and United went on that season to win the first of their post-war Football League titles.
Distance between the clubs: 103 miles (166 kilometres)
6th 18 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 6th
2008-09 Premier League performance - best and worst categories in the league
1. Undefeated in 10 in all competitions; won seven and drawn three in league and cup.
2. Won four and drawn two of the last six Premier League matches, since losing 2-1,
away to Liverpool on 13 September; their only league defeat this season, and sole
loss in 11 Premier League outings.
3. Already beaten one promoted club in West Bromwich Albion; 4-0 at home on 18 October.
4. Two points down on this same stage last season.
5. On a league high 46 matches without a no score draw; the goalless stalemate, home
to Reading on the opening day of last season, 12 August 2007, being the most recent.
6. Scored in each of the last 33 league games; the 1-0 defeat away to Bolton on
24 November 2007 was the last occasion in which they failed to score.
7. Also on the longest current run in the highest league of 87 matches since a loss
by more than a single goal; 3-0, away to Chelsea on 29 April 2006.
8. The lowest placed of the three remaining clubs with unbeaten home records in the
highest league.
9. This match precedes the Champions League Group E match, away to Celtic on Wednesday.
HULL CITY
5th 20 points
Highest realistically achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rd
Lowest could fall: 6th
2008-09 Premier League performance - best and worst categories in the league
1. Chasing a seventh win in the 11th fixture of top-flight football in their history.
2. Already accounted for Newcastle, Arsenal, Tottenham and West Brom on the road.
3. Chelsea's midweek victory ended a six-match unbeaten run, in which 16 out of 18 points
were garnered.
4. One win and one defeat so far against 'Big Four' clubs.
5. The lowest placed of the three remaining clubs still holding unbeaten away records in
the Premier League.
7. Chasing a first ever top-flight win in the North-West.
Rio FERDINAND is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of
every one of Manchester United's Premier League matches this season.
Wayne ROONEY, who's scored nine goals in his last nine games for club and country and
five in seven appearances for United, needs one more to total 100 club goals (Everton
and Manchester United).
If selected:-
Gary NEVILLE will be making his 550th appearance for Manchester United.
Cristiano RONALDO will be making his 250th appearance in United colours.
If on the field from the outset:-
John O'SHEA will be making his 150th English league start (Manchester United
and Bournemouth).
HULL CITY
Michael TURNER and Boaz MYHILL are the only remaining players to have been on the
field for every minute of every one of Hull's Premier League matches to date.
Nick BARMBY needs a hat-trick to reach 100 club career goals.
Dean WINDASS is a hat-trick shy of 200 goals in English and Scottish league football.
If selected:-
Wayne BROWN will be making his 50th appearance in a Hull shirt.
If on the field from the outset:-
Loan signing Paul McSHANE, once on Manchester United's books without making an
appearance, will be making his 100th career league start (Walsall, Brighton,
West Brom, Sunderland and Hull).
Manchester United have won their last three meetings with Hull in league and cup.
The most recent league clash was 33 years ago in the old Second Division, when United
won 2-0 at Old Trafford on 15 February 1975. They subsequently registered a 6-0 aggregate
victory in the second round of the Littlewoods League Cup in September/October 1987.
Hull last eclipsed United 2-0 in a home second tier encounter on 23 November 1974.
Home and away League (inc PL): Man Utd wins 9, Hull 4, Draws 3 Prem: Man Utd 0 wins, Hull 0, Draws 0
at Man Utd only League (inc PL): Man Utd 7 wins, Hull 0, Draws 1 Prem: Man Utd 0 wins, Hull 0, Draws 0