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Sunday, 7 March 2010
Premier League
Barclays Premier League Venue: Goodison Park Date: Sunday, 7 March 2010 Kick-off: 1600 GMT Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Merseyside 95.8FM, full commentary on 5 live sports extra, highlights on Match of the Day 2 & live on Sky Sports 1
Everton’s Phil Jagielka (thigh) and Leon Osman (foot) are doubts, while Tim Cahill could return after missing the last three games with a calf complaint.
James Vaughan and Philippe Senderos will also be assessed, but Louis Saha is ruled out by a thigh injury.
Both Jimmy Bullard and Geovanni are available for Hull, while Stephen Hunt should play despite a foot problem.
Craig Fagan serves a one-game ban, and defender Anthony Gardner (ankle) will be out for at least six weeks.
Everton
Doubtful: Cahill (calf), Jagielka (thigh), Osman (foot), Senderos (knee), Vaughan (knock)
Injured: Fellaini (ankle), Hibbert (groin), Saha (thigh)
Hull
Suspended: Fagan (one match) Doubtful: Hunt (foot), Marney (calf)
Injured: Ashbee (knee), Gardner (ankle)
Away wins have been in short supply for Hull, who have not won on the road for 12 months. The omens ahead of a trip to Goodison are not promising – the Tigers’ solitary win away to Everton came 58 years ago, when wartime rationing was still in place.
Hull’s wretched away form makes this a game Everton simply must win if they are serious about snatching a European spot in May. But after back-to-back home wins against Chelsea and Manchester United, losses at Sporting Lisbon and Tottenham have provided a reality check for David Moyes’ men.
These sides have been heading in opposite directions since Hull won the reverse fixture in November.
Everton have been beaten by only two Premier League clubs since defeat at the KC Stadium, gradually hauling themselves into the top half of the table as their injury crisis has eased.
Victory against Everton took Hull level on points with the Toffees, but a run of one win from their subsequent 13 league games means they begin the weekend third bottom.
Manager Phil Brown must be sorely tempted to deploy fit-again midfielder Jimmy Bullard at Goodison. The former Fulham man has completed 90 minutes only three times this season, with the Tigers unbeaten on each occasion.
Head-to-head
Hull have lost their last three trips to Everton. Their last win at Goodison Park was a 2-0 win in a second tier match on 23 August 1952.
Everton won 4-0 at Hull in a third-round Carling Cup tie in September. However, the Tigers exacted revenge by winning 3-2 in November’s league match at the KC Stadium.
Everton
The Toffees have won their last five league games at Goodison. A sixth successive home win would equal their club record in the Premier League, set between January and March 2006.
Everton have not lost to a club in the bottom half since the 3-2 defeat at Hull on 25 November.
Since losing at the KC Stadium, Everton have only been beaten by two Premier League clubs, Liverpool (twice) and Tottenham.
Hull
The Tigers’ only win in their last 13 league games was the 2-1 success against Manchester City on 6 February.
Hull are one of two sides without a Premier League away win this season, along with Burnley. The Clarets are the only side with a poorer away record than Hull, who have taken four points from 14 games on the road.
Phil Brown’s side have won only one of their last 28 away Premier League games. That was the 1-0 victory at Fulham on 4 March 2009.
Everton
Saha: 15 goals (13 league); Cahill: 6 goals (4 league); Pienaar: 6 goals (3 league)
Hull
Hunt: 6 goals (6 league); Geovanni: 5 goals (3 league)
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistant referees: Mick McDonough & Martin Yerby
Fourth official: Kevin Friend
Everton (L1-2 v Tottenham, a): Howard, Neville, Heitinga, Distin, Baines, Anichebe (Donovan 63), Arteta, Pienaar, Osman (Jagielka 46), Rodwell (Vaughan 81), Yakubu. Subs not used: Nash, Yobo, Bilyaletdinov, Gosling.
Hull (L0-3 v West Ham, a): Myhill; McShane, Mouyokolo, Gardner, Dawson, Fagan, Boateng, Cairney (Altidore 64), Hunt (Barmby 65), Zaki (Olofinjana 65), Vennegoor of Hesselink. Subs not used: Duke, Garcia, Kilbane, Zayatte.
Hull scorers: Hunt 9, Dawson 20, Marney 28
Everton scorers: Zayatte (og) 49, Saha (pen) 65
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