Hull City-Match Preview

Whilst Aidy Boothroyd and his attack minded team has surpassed all expectations and now contemplate the play-offs together with a potential trip to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on May 21, our visitor's have struggled to adapt to life at a higher level following their own promotion from League One last May.

Although never seriously troubled by the spectre of an immediate return to whence they came, only recently has safety been mathematically assured.

A slow start to the campaign which yielded just two wins for the Tigers in their opening nine games, together with the lack of a consistent goal scorer and serious injuries to a number of key players, meant a winter long struggle was always a possibility.

Defensively, the Tigers were pretty sound though, and the form of American goalkeeper, Boaz Myhill in particular, who was perhaps unfortunate not to claim a place in the PFA's Championship's Team of the Year ahead of Reading's Marcus Hahnemann, was impressing everyone who saw him.

However, when a one goal loss at Steve Coterill's Burnley on October 28 preceded five further winless matches, including Watford's visit to the KC Stadium on Guy Fawkes, Gavin Mahon and Matthew Spring netting in a 2-1 victory, a possible prolonged fight against relegation loomed large.

As Christmas approached the alarm bells were ringing, but three victories, all of them at home, against Cardiff City (2-0), Sheffield Wednesday (1-0) and Ipswich Town (2-0) kept Taylor's men out of any immediate danger.

The New Year was to herald the arrival from Macclesfield Town of the prolific Jon Parkin, and the striker nicknamed the ‘beast' immediately won over the hearts of the KC Stadium faithful, netting four times in his first six outings, helping in part to secure worthy on the road victories at Stoke City (3-0) and Luton Town (3-2).

Another inconsistent spell ensued before back to back one goal Humberside triumphs over Plymouth Argyle and Crewe Alexandra in mid March put safety within touching distance, and when Parkin notched the game's only goal at home to Leeds United at the beginning of April, Hull City's Championship status was all but secured.

More recently the side has lost narrowly and late at Sheffield United (2-3) followed by three successive draws, at home to Burnley (0-0) and Preston North End (1-1), and away at Derby County (1-1).

History of the Watford v Hull City fixture

Watford play host to Hull City at Vicarage Road Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and hold the advantage on previous meetings between the two. Of the 15 games played, the Golden Boys have recorded 6 wins, and Hull City have come away with three victories.

The last time the two teams met at Watford was well over fifteen years ago, back in October 1990, with Hull City inflicting a narrow one goal home defeat upon the Golden Boys in a Second Division match.

For a detailed analysis of the head-to-head between the two sides, click here.

Recent respective form guides

Watford have been playing quite well at home, winning three, drawing two and losing just one. A total of 11 goals have been scored by Aidy Boothroyd's team in these games, with seven conceded.

The away form of Hull City is pretty dire, attaining just three draws from the previous six away games. While the Tigers have hit seven goals, ten have hit the back of the wrong net.

Watford are just outside the automatic promotion places, in third place, having taken 80 points from their 45 games. Hull City find themselves struggling down in a lowly 18th position in the Coca-Cola Championship League Table, having accrued 51 points from their 45 matches.

For a detailed analysis of team form guides throughout the leagues, click here.

FootyMad's prediction…

The match against Hull City is certainly an interesting one but with the Championship's leading goal scorer, Marlon King likely to be involved I have decided its going to end up with a narrow victory for the Golden Boys. Home Win