By Eye Of The Tiger
August 25 2009

Hull take on Southend At the KC this evening in the Carling Cup 2nd round. Hull are set to make a number of changes to the side that beat Bolton at the weekend . Southend could also make changes for the game , Southend have drawn all their league games this season and their only win has come in the Cup in the 1st round against Cheltenham, winning 2-1. Team News

Hull are expected to rest alot of 1st team regulars, Tony Warner, Steven Mouyokolo, George Boateng, Peter Halmosi, Nick Barmby, Craig Fagan and  Jozy Altidore could however all start. Nathan Doyle is expected to play at right back and Tom Cairney could make his full debut.

Southend captain Adam Barrett will clock up his 250th appearance for the club if he plays against Hull tonight. On loan left-back John White is a doubt with a calf injury. Alex Revell and James Walker are pushing for recalls. Damien Scanell is expected to miss out after an ankle injury.

 

Head-to-head

• Southend's last win away to Hull came in December 1962, the Shrimpers winning 2-1 at Boothferry Park in a Division Three match.

• These clubs have met each other 36 times; Hull have won 13, Southend 10 and 13 have been drawn.

• Hull are 43 places above Southend in the league ladder.

Hull City

• The Tigers have a poor recent record in the League Cup, losing their opening match in five of the last seven seasons.

• Victory against Bolton was Hull's first in 13 league matches and their first home win in the top flight since December 2008.

• The Tigers lost to lower league opposition in last season's League Cup, bowing out 2-1 to Championship outfit Swansea City.

• Andy Dawson could make his 200th appearance for Hull.

Manager Views

Hull's Assistant Brian Horton

"You can call them fringe players if you like, but I'm not because every player at a football club should think of himself as a first team player,"

"What are fringe players? If young players are professionals then that is what they are. Is Welbeck a fringe player at Manchester United?

"They are professional players and if called upon, they should be capable of putting a performance on. There will be a few changes tonight, but I'm expecting those players to go out there and perform.

"You're always looking for a good run in the cup. We're not in the competition just for the sake of it, we want to win.

"It's a good draw for us being at home and the fans will expect us to win. We want to give it a good go. As a professional footballer, you should want to win every game you play and that is what we want from our boys.

"Southend will be tough. They play some good football and their manager has got them well organised."

"There won't be massive changes because things have been going well and we want to keep it going but we may look at one or two different things,"

"The performances have been good for us so far and we will need another one tonight because we're away to a Premier League side and this game is therefore as tough as they come at this stage of the competition."

"We are massive underdogs for this game and that means there is no pressure on us which will hopefully work in our favour," he said.

"Hull are a good team and stayed up in the Premier League last season when nobody gave them a chance.

"They have some excellent players but over the last few years we've shown what can happen in cup competitions.

"We will need to work hard and have a bit of luck along the way but we will be giving it our best shot and can hopefully cause another upset."

Eye Of The Tigers Prediction 2-1 to the Tigers

Fans can pay on the gate for this game with prices at £15 for adults and £8 for kids.