The FourFourTwo Preview: Hull vs Aston Villa

Billed as

Eighth vs ninth - so first on Match of the Day, right? Right?

The lowdown

Villa haven't lost to Hull since August 1987, when hotly tipped new gaffer Graham Taylor was struggling to get freshly relegated Villa accustomed to Division Two. Much has changed since – Villa went straight up and stayed there, while Hull have been through seven division changes and a stadium switch – but some perceptions remain the same: Hull will be the underdogs and Villa will be reliant on the big lad up front.

Those impressions may not be fully accurate. The hosts are above the visitors in the table, thanks to a strong record at the KC: only Chelsea and Man City have more home points than Steve Bruce's men, who have conceded just one goal in three home games as they work toward that preliminary 40-point target. Mind you, Villa have triumphed on two trips out of three this term, including that memorable opening win at Arsenal.

Villa are proving there's more to them than Christian Benteke. The barrelling Belgian limped off at Norwich, but his substitute Libor Kozak promptly scored the winner; then last week, a determined defensive performance and great team ethic overcame Man City.

It will be interesting to see which side comes out on the front foot. Hull haven't had majority possession in any league match this season; the only side with a lower average possession figure is Villa, who have only had more of the ball in the home loss to Newcastle. With guests who prefer to counter-attack and hosts who haven't won by more than one goal in the last 20 games, this may not be a free-flowing encounter, but the tactics could be intriguing. These sides sit eighth and ninth; now might be the time to start having more belief in themselves.

Team news

Hull will be shaking fists at the Humberside sky that four-goal midfielder Robbie Brady is out for a month after a hernia op. Robert Koren and James Chester are not yet in contention.

Villa could welcome back Gabby Agbonlahor, while Andi Weimann should shake off a knock.

Player to watch: Libor Kozak (Villa)

With Benteke out, Villa need their Czech replacement to link well with his supporting cast. Sadly for that plan, Libor Kozak didn't have a lot of aerial success in his first league start, winning 1 headed duel in the Man City box and losing most of the battles 40 yards out which a counter-attacking side need their target-man to win.

His passing needs to sharpen up, too, while he might be advised to can the dribbles: against City last weekend, the striker only completed 1 of the 6 he attempted.

The managers

Lambert and Bruce have done a decent job of avoiding each other's teams, their only previous meeting being in September 2011 when Lambert's Norwich beat Bruce's Sunderland. Before the game, Bruce had avuncularly advised his former club's manager that it might be difficult to stay up: two months later, Bruce was sacked...

Facts and figures

• Hull City have won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since October 2008.
• Aston Villa have kept only one clean sheet in their last 28 league games, but this did come in their last away trip in the competition.
• Only on six occasions this season has a side won a game despite conceding the first goal - two of these occasions have seen Aston Villa achieve the feat.
• Aston Villa have the lowest average possession figure in the Premier League this season (39.9%), Hull have the second lowest (42.7%).
• There have been just four goals scored in the three Premier League games at KC Stadium this season, three of which have been scored by Hull.
• Hull have the chance to win back-to-back home matches in the Premier League for the first time in their history.
• The Tigers have conceded only one goal in their last four top-flight home games.
• Villa have won five of their last eight away games in the Premier League (L2, D1).
• Aston Villa have not won three successive Premier League matches since April 2010.
• 15.7% of Aston Villa's passes have been hit long (35 yards or more) this season; a league-high ratio.

FourFourTwo prediction

Hull have more ball but Villa bag on the break. 0-1.

Hull vs Aston Villa LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone