Hull v Bristol City

Last updated : 17 December 2010 By BBC Sport

Hull will be without Nick Barmby (leg) and Mark Cullen (ankle), while Richard Garcia and Daniel Ayala are doubts.Garcia sustained a knee injury during the first half of the draw at Crystal Palace, while on-loan defender Ayala is still nursing a hamstring problem.

Bristol City defender Liam Fontaine will be sidelined for at least a month after suffering an ankle injury in training last week.

Fellow defender Louis Carey is out with a calf problem.

MATCH PREVIEW

Both of these teams have improved since a dismal spell and are now enjoying their best run for two years. Hull are unbeaten in five matches, while Bristol City have won three in a row.

The West Country side have won six and lost only one of their last nine matches, and have been effective at both ends of the pitch. They have scored in their last 10 games and have kept three consecutive clean sheets.

This is the first time the Robins have met Hull since being beaten by them in the 2008 play-off final at Wembley, when Dean Windass' winning goal took the Tigers into the top flight.

Hull have struggled since returning to the second tier, and have scored only four goals at home - fewer than any other team in the Championship. But they also conceded fewer goals at home than any other side; a mere six.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Bristol City have won 30 and Hull 22 of the 70 previous league meetings between these clubs.

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• A goal for Hull would be their 100th against the Robins.

Hull

• Hull have picked up nine points out of 15 since losing at home to Humber rivals Scunthorpe on 6 November.

• The Tigers have scored, on average, every 6.12 shots on target this season. It is the worst conversion rate in the Championship.

• They are one of two teams in the division yet to score a penalty this season. The other is Watford.

• Liam Rosenior is set to face his former club, while Richard Garcia is hoping to make his 250th career appearance.

Bristol City

• Bristol City are top of the Championship's 'form table' based on the last six games.

• Of their 203 goal attempts this season, 123 have been on target. At 61%, it is the best accuracy rate in the division.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport