Peterborough United v Hull City - Preview

Peterborough United are hoping to return to winning ways as they entertain promotion chasing Hull City.

Peterborough United -Vs- Hull City
Venue: London Road
Date: 19th January, 2013
Kick-off: 3pm

Posh welcome visitors Hull City to London Road for the 34th League match between the two teams.

Posh hold the advantage having won 16 League matches compared to Hulls 9 matches. Hull did the double over Posh last season winning both matches by a single goal but Posh upset the form book earlier this season as they triumphed 3-1 at the KC Stadium thanks to a hat-trick by Emile Sinclair.

Hull are having a good season and are challenging for the automatic promotion places although they did drop down to third place following Leicester City`s win over Middlesbrough last night. Hull will move back into second spot if they beat Posh today though.

Posh and The Tigers both suffered defeats last weekend. Hull went down to a shock 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday which saw the Owls leapfrog Posh who suffered a 2-1 defeat away at Nottingham Forest.

TEAM NEWS

Peterborough United

Posh boss Darren Ferguson looks set to name an unchanged starting line-up which means a second start for Manchester United loanees Scott Wootton and Davide Petrucci.

Danny Swanson missed last weeks match with a shoulder injury but should take his place back on the substitutes bench this week.

Despite the poor form shown by Kane Ferdinand, he is expected to retain his place in the heart of the midfield alongside fellow youngster Joe Newell. Last weeks match against Forest passed both of them by and it is felt by many Posh fans that a change is needed in this central pairing.

Shaun Brisley got the nod over Nat Knight-Percival for the left side of the three man defence but it gave the defence a lop-sided feel. Left-footed Knight-Percival is pushing for a start to give a more even feel to the defence.

Influential defender Gaby Zakuani is again missing as he is away at the African Cup of Nations which starts this weekend. Lee Tomlin will also be missing as he sits out his final match of his three match suspension.

Vital Posh would like the starting line-up to be:

Olejnik

Bostwick, Wootton, Knight-Percival

Little, McCann, Newell, Rowe
Petrucci       Boyd

Gayle

Hull City

Manager Steve Bruce is without top scorer Sone Aluko who has injured his Achilles. The forward could be out for up to two months. Bruce will also be without wing-back Ahmed Elmohamady who has been recalled early from his loan spell by parent club Sunderland.

The Tigers do welcome back goalkeeper David Stockdale who has signed on loan for the remainder of the season from Fulham. Posh will remember him well as he was on loan at Ipswich when Posh won 7-1. Stockdale played five times for Hull earlier in the season before he was recalled by Fulham.

HOTSHOTS

Peterborough United

8 - Lee Tomlin
7 - Dwight Gayle
6 - George Boyd
4 - Michael Bostwick

Hull City

8 - Aluko
7 - Koren
6 - Simpson
4 - Faye & Proschwitz

REFEREE

Experienced referee TONY BATES takes charge of this match. To find out more details of the referee, click HERE.

He will be assisted by David Avent and Declan Ford.

The fourth official is Mathew Buonassisi.

PREDICTION

It`s going to be another very tough match for Posh as they look to get back to winning ways against a very good Hull City.

With the missing pair of Zakuani and Tomlin, Posh will again rely on the youthfulness of Ferdinand and the two Manchester United loanees to bolster the team as they look to win only their fifth game at home this season.

Posh to draw: 1 - 1.

UP THE POSH

Follow me on Twitter: @mwl1967

Photos/images courtesy of www.theposhpics.com.

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