Hull City v Bournemouth: Tigers out to avoid unwanted history as they seek revenge

By: Timothy Dehinbo

Marco Silva take charge of his first Premier League match when Hull host Bournemouth on Saturday at the KCOM Stadium.

Silva was appointed as Hull manager last week and made a winning start as his side beat Swansea in the FA Cup last Saturday, before losing 2-0 to Manchester United in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Tuesday.

Silva has made two new signings in striker Oumar Niasse, on loan from Everton, and midfielder Evandro Goebel, on a permanent deal from Porto.

Niasse will be available to face the Cherries.

Bournemouth thrashed the Tigers 6-1 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, and Silva said: “My players haven’t forgotten what happened at Bournemouth, but this is the chance to change that, not revenge.
“We only play to win the game – nothing else. That is all that matters.”

While Bournemouth are ninth in the Premier League, they have only won twice away from home this season. They will be looking to bounce back after losing at Sky Bet League One team Millwall in the FA Cup last weekend.

Defenders Michael Dawson and Curtis Davies are in contention to feature for Hull after training on Friday.
Josh Tymon should also be available after recovering from the injury he suffered against Manchester United in midweek.

Bournemouth will have forward Benik Afobe available after he pulled out of DR Congo’s Africa Cup of Nations squad. Winger Ryan Fraser is fit again following a calf injury and defender Marc Wilson should be available after suffering from cramp after the FA Cup defeat at Millwall.

Club captain Simon Francis continues to serve a suspension, while on-loan defender Nathan Ake has returned to parent club Chelsea and Ivory Coast forward Max Gradel is away on international duty.

Bournemouth inflicted Hull’s joint-heaviest defeat in Premier League history in October, winning 6-1 at the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries had scored six goals in their previous seven league games against the Tigers prior to that victory.
Hull haven’t lost back-to-back league games against Bournemouth since the 1989/90 season when both were in the second tier.

Artur Boruc’s next appearance will be his 100th Premier League apps. Only three Polish players have previously reached the century in the competition (all goalkeepers), Wojciech Szczesny, Jerzy Dudek and Lukasz Fabianski.
Robert Snodgrass has been directly involved in nine of Hull’s 17 Premier League goals
this season (seven goals, two assists).

Hull have shipped more set-piece goals (including penalties) in 2016/17 than any other Premier League side (20).
Bournemouth have won just two of their last 12 Premier League away games (D2 L8), although both wins came against sides with City in their title (Stoke and Swansea).

The game has a draw written all over it.
PREDICTION: HULL CITY 2-2 BOURNEMOUTH