facing familar faces

By Tiger Tim
October 3 2008

hull head back to north London this weekend this time to take on Tottenham. Anthony Gardner and Nick Barmby are pushing for a return to action when the Tigers visit their former club Tottenham at the weekend. Marlon King however is still a doubt The striker, who is on loan from Wigan Athletic, is struggling with a back problem. Dean Marney is expexted to start against his former club. goal heros against Arsenal Geovanni and Daniel Cousins are also expected to start.

Tottenham coach Juande Ramos will make changes to his Tottenham Hotspur team for the visit of Hull City.

Ledley King will be rested for the game, and Ramos has even hinted that fellow centre-half Jonathan Woodgate could be given a break.

If Woodgate is left out, then Michael Dawson could partner Vedran Corluka, who was cup-tied against Krakow, in the middle, with Chris Gunter continuing at right-back.

Alan Hutton remains sidelined with a foot injury, while Gareth Bale recovered from a foot problem which kept him out of last week's defeat at Portsmouth to play 90 minutes against Krakow.

Roman Pavlyuchenko is available after being cup-tied on Thursday and he could replace either Fraizer Campbell or Darren Bent in the starting line-up.

David Bentley, Jamie O'Hara, Giovani dos Santos and Gilberto are among the other players hoping for a return to the starting line-up.

Hull City manager Phil Brown told BBC Look North:

"It's not going to be easy but the key to any success is that first goal.

"Just because we've beaten a team like Arsenal doesn't mean to say anybody's going to take their foot off the gas."

Brown on Tottenham

"White Hart Lane is a ground steeped in football tradition, but hopefully we'll catch Tottenham at the right time," said Brown.

"They're not having the best of times in the league and there might be the opportunity for us to get something from the game.

"I think the closest thing we'll see where Tottenham are concerned was against Portsmouth.

"They are playing with a lack of confidence and the only way to stand up against that is to play the type of game we played against Arsenal - full of confidence, full of belief and buoyed by the fact we got a result last weekend."


Brown on the players

"It's been a disappointing week from Marlon King's point of view," said Brown.

"He is a player playing at the top of his game and the only reason he is a doubt on Sunday is because of his back.

"We're trying to get him through the week and across that white line on Sunday. If he can play some part, that would be great for us because he is starting to play some good football.

"He is our only major doubt at the moment from the team that played last week.

"I have had a problem in terms of getting him on the training ground and at this moment in time, I haven't had him on the training ground.

"Hopefully he will be on the training ground tomorrow with a view to playing on Sunday."

"They are both available for selection, Nick Barmby probably more so than Anthony Gardner.

"I don't want to 'choke' Anthony's chances of coming back, but it's about the next 32 games not the next one.

"I think I brought him back too early last time, so he may not be in the starting line up but Nicky Barmby has got a chance of being on the bench."

"Stelios is with the physio at the moment. It will be a course of action over the next seven to ten days of strenghening and conditioning work before he gets his first reserve game."

head 2 head

Spurs last played Hull in the fourth round of the FA Cup on 24 January 1981, and won 2-0 on their way to winning the trophy.

The last league clash between these clubs was also at White Hart Lane and won by Tottenham; 1-0 in the second tier on 26 April 1978.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Spurs 5 wins, Hull 5, Draws 4
Prem: Spurs 0 wins, Hull 0, Draws 0

at Spurs only
League (inc PL): Spurs 4 wins, Hull 0, Draws 3
Prem: Spurs 0 wins, Hull 0, Draws 0


likely line ups

Spurs: Gomes, Gunter, Corluka, Dawson, Bale, Lennon, Jenas, Zokora, Modric, Bentley, Pavlyuchenko

Hull: Myhill, McShane, Zayatte, Turner, Dawson, Marney, Boateng, Geovanni, Ashbee, Cousin, King

Venue: White Hart Lane Date: Sunday, 5 October Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Humberside 95.9FM, BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live, BBC London 94.9 on FM and online & highlights on Match of the Day 2