Hull V Aston Villa Barclays Premier League Match 5 -October 2013. Stephen Quinn or George Boyd will replace Hull's leading scorer Robbie Brady, who has had a hernia operation.
Fit-again defender Paul McShane could start, but Robert Koren and James Chester are long-term absentees.Watch Hull V Aston Villa Live, Watch Hull V Aston Villa Live Stream, Watch Hull V Aston Villa Free Live Stream, Watch Hull V Aston Villa Online, Watch Hull V Aston Villa Online Free, Hull V Aston Villa Live, Hull V Aston Villa live stream Online.
Aston Villa pair Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Westwood hope to return from respective ankle and thigh injuries.
Christian Benteke is recovering quickly from a hip problem but will not feature despite being named in Belgium's squad for their World Cup qualifiers.
MATCH PREVIEW
There might not be much in this game between two sides nestled together in mid-table, with Hull starting really well at home and Aston Villa, happier on the counter attack, twice winners on the road already.
Villa have now produced two of the more surprising results of the season so far after adding last week's home win over Manchester City to the opening-day success at Arsenal.
Wins at Villa Park have been all too rare in the last couple of seasons and Villa seem more naturally comfortable on the road when the onus isn't on them as much to take the game to the opposition. They've won five of the last eight away from home in the Premier League, losing just two.
Villa have coped well so far without injured star striker Christian Benteke. When he limped off at Norwich in the most recent away match, Libor Kozak came on and scored the winner, and then three different players found the net against City last weekend.
Hull have made the best start of the three promoted teams and have built solid foundations at home so far, taking seven points out of nine while conceding only one goal in the process.
They'll need to stay tight at the back though, with only a single goal going in at the other end in each of those matches and in-form Robby Brady absent for the visit of Villa.
The clubs haven't met too often in recent times, but it's 26 years since Hull last beat Villa and they have only scored a single goal in losing each of the last eight meetings.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Villa have won their last eight meetings against Hull in all competitions, including all four Premier League fixtures. The Villans have kept six successive clean sheets in this fixture.
Hull have not registered a point or league goal against Villa in five attempts since a 2-1 home win in August 1987 in the old Division Two.
Hull City
Hull have made the best Premier League start of the three promoted clubs (W3, D1, L2), and have earned seven points from their three home fixtures.
They are vying to win three successive Premier League matches for the first time since a four-match streak in October 2008.
Steve Bruce's side have the chance to win back-to-back home matches in the Premier League for the first time in their history.
The Tigers have only conceded one goal in their four home games in all competitions.
The injured Robbie Brady has scored half of Hull's goals for the season, with three in six league games.
Curtis Davies made 67 appearances in all competitions for Aston Villa between 2007 and 2010.
Aston Villa
Villa are striving to register three successive league wins for the first time since April 2010.
Only Arsenal (nine points) and Liverpool (seven) have earned more away points than Villa's six this season. They have taken 16 points from their last eight away games.
Paul Lambert's side have already won two matches this season from losing positions - the best record in the division.
Their tally of nine goals is bettered only by Manchester City (14) and Arsenal (13).
Villa average the lowest amount of possession in the Premier League this season (39.9%). Hull have the second lowest (42.7%).
Brad Guzan played 16 Championship matches on loan at Hull between January and April 2011.