Hull City v Palace

KC Stadium, Saturday 3.00pm

Keith Millen

Team news

Mile Jedinak, Kagisho Dikgacoi and Barry Bannan have returned from international duty with their respective countries without any injuries.

Jonny Williams could make a return to the squad after recovering from an ankle injury ahead of schedule. He played 45 minutes of a reserve game in midweek. Jerome Thomas is a doubt with a groin problem.

Midfielder Adlene Guedioura (fractured ribs), plus medium term injured Glenn Murray (knee) and defender Jack Hunt (ankle) remain sidelined.

Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor has beaten off a thigh injury and should make a comeback, along with Robbie Brady (hernia) and Robert Koren (foot). However, midfielder Stephen Quinn (hamstring) and Sone Aluko (Achilles) won't feature.

Hull (from): McGregor, Harper, McShane, Faye, Figueroa, Bruce, Davies, Rosenior, Elmohamady, Boyd, Brady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Meyler, Koren, Sagbo, Gedo, Graham.

Palace (from): Speroni, Price, Ward, Gabbidon, Moxey, Delaney, Mariappa, Dikgacoi, Thomas, Jedinak, Campana, Bannan, Bolasie, O'Keefe, Puncheon, Kebe, Gayle, Jerome, Phillips, Chamakh, Williams.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"Hull have changed their formation at times and have gone with three at the back, or they've gone 4-4-1-1, so they've chopped and changed. It's not an easy one to read from our perspective. They do have good home form and it's a tough place to go.

"One player we will have to watch is Robbie Brady – he's a good player and has a good left foot on him. I think we'll show Hull as much respect as we did with Everton. You'll get beaten anywhere in this league if you think you can open yourself up and go all-out attack.

"They have had a good start, Hull. I think our players will be in a good frame of mind, and they will be coming up against some of the players who were in the Championship last season – that might give them some belief.

"Sometimes when you look at the teamsheet against your Man Uniteds and your Liverpools, there are world class names on there, but I don't think our lads have been overawed by that. We've got to make sure we're solid, stay in the game and definitely take our chances."

Jonny Williams

"I still have faith we can turn it around as there is still over 25 games left to play and a lot of points to play for. My personal targets are to get fit and stay clear from injury and then to try and keep Palace in the Premier League.

"The morale is good but it was a shame to lose Ian Holloway as I really enjoyed working under him. He was a great guy and a fantastic manager to work under. He really gave me confidence and belief in my own ability to go and back myself, but I am also looking forward to working with whoever comes in to take over now.

"We haven't been too far off getting a result and the performances have been very good in some games.

"Yes, we are bottom of the league at the moment and I imagine a lot of people have written us off already but that happened in the play-offs last year. No one thought we would get promoted but look what we achieved."

Jerome Thomas

"I understand the frustration from the fans and I am not one to shy away from these occasions. We want to show the fans appreciation because we’re going to need them. We can’t do this without them.

"It is frustrating. No one wants to lose games of football and we don’t go out there to lose. All I can say is, if I am chosen to play in the team, I’m going to try and lead by example and lift the crowd. That’s what I want to do, regardless if we’re in the relegation zone or not.

"When players ask me about the Premier League and the Championship players ask me about the experience at this level, there are two things I tell them.

"One, I tell them you need confidence, and two, you can’t make mistakes. In the Championship you’ll get away with it, but here you’ll get punished, it’s that simple. You can’t give the ball away cheaply and you can’t give the opposition time on the ball."

Steve Bruce

"It's a big game coming up, we know that. I'm sure Crystal Palace will be the same as us and will be targeting this one.

"Whoever comes in and takes the job, I wouldn't have thought they'll be too much away from the side that played Everton a fortnight ago.

"That was a good point for them and will have given them a bit of confidence. We won't take anything for granted, I'm certain about that.

"We've got nine games over the next six or so weeks and for me this is the defining part of the season for us.

"When you consider we've been going for over three months and only played 11 games, this is when it really picks up in the Premier League. It will be a big test for us.

"There'll not be much time to recover between games and there's some strong tests coming up too. We've been flat to the boards already because, like every newly promoted side, we have to be.

"Now it's a case of maintaining what we've done so far and ensuring we pick up points whenever we can between now and the New Year. It's a big time."

Hull City - league stats

Full league table

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
05/03/2013	League	Crystal Palace	4 - 2	Hull City
27/11/2012	League	Hull City	0 - 0	Crystal Palace
17/03/2012	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Hull City
20/08/2011	League	Hull City	0 - 1	Crystal Palace
30/04/2011	League	Hull City	1 - 1	Crystal Palace

All time results

Last meeting

Palace 4-2 Hull City

Tuesday March 05 2013

Palace: Speroni, Ramage, Moxey, Delaney, Williams (Parr, 65), Dikgacoi, Butterfield (Dobbie, 78), Jedinak, Phillips (Bolasie, 74), Murray, Zaha

Subs not used: Moritz, Price, Marrow, Wilbraham

Goals: Phillips (pen 45, 52, 53), Zaha (77)

Bookings: Delaney

Hull City: Stockdale, Bruce, Hobbs, Chester (McShane, 59), Quinn (Fathi, 69), Koren (Simpson, 69), Elmohamady, Meyler, Boyd, Gedo, Brady

Subs not used: Evans, Proschwitz, Faye, Jakupovic

Goals: Simpson (73), Meyler (90)

Bookings: Meyler

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