Every away game will provoke trepidation until Manchester United can once more send out a group of fit, established defenders. Although Hull are no Fulham, who beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s side 3-0, they will see an opportunity. The home team are just above the relegation zone but that ought to make them all the keener to grasp any opportunity presented to them. Hull’s problem is that they, too, are vulnerable and United should attack with far more purpose than they did at Craven Cottage. Kevin McCarra

Venue KC Stadium

Tickets Sold out

Last season Hull 0 Manchester United 1

Referee A Wiley

This season’s matches 14 Y43, R3, 3.29 cards per game

sportingbet odds Hull 13-2 Manchester United 7-20 Draw 7-2

Hull

Subs from Duke, Moukoyolo, Kilbane, Mendy, Cousin, Marney, Altidore, Ghilas, Sonko, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Halmosi

Doubtful None

Injured Barmby (calf, 9 Jan), Bullard (knee, 30 Jan), Ashbee (knee, May)

Suspended None

Form guide LDLDWD

Disciplinary record Y36 R2

Leading scorers Geovanni, Hunt 3

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Fletcher, Anderson, Owen, Rafael, Giggs, Welbeck, Gibson, Obertan, Tosic, Fabio

Doubtful Giggs (hamstring), Neville (calf), Rafael (ankle), Vidic (calf)

Injured Van der Sar (knee, unknown), Brown (hamstring, 30 Dec), Macheda (hamstring, 30 Dec), Nani (ankle, 2 Jan), J Evans (calf, 9 Jan), O’Shea (thigh, 9 Jan), Ferdinand (back, unknown), Hargreaves (knee, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide LWLWWW

Disciplinary record Y29 R2

Leading scorer Rooney 12

Match pointers

• Manchester United have not drawn away from home since December 2008, a run of 19 games encompassing 14 wins and five draws

• 65% of the goals Hull have scored have come in the first half, the highest proportion in the division

• United are the only Premier League team not to drop any points from a leading position this season

• Hull have failed to score in three consecutive games, their second such run this season, they have never gone four Premier League games without a goal

• No team that has lost five of their opening 18 Premier League matches has ever won the title

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