Manchester City go in search of their first win in seven Premier League games as Hull City visit them for a kick-off this Saturday at Eastlands.
Mark Hughes' side have drawn all six of their games since the 3-1 win over West Ham United in late September. But despite having dropped to sixth place in the table with some winless games in the recent weeks, City have not lost too much ground on the leading contenders for honours this season.
A much-needed win against a rejuvenated Hull side won't banish the recent disappointments, but will certainly help and, more importantly, restore the faith of supporters in their belief that this could be a season of huge significance for the club.
Record signing Robinho is set to make his first Manchester City appearance after three months of sideline with ankle injury. The £32.5million Brazilian has not been involved for the Blues since August, after which he suffered a stress fracture on his international duty in Argentina.
City could be boosted by the return of Kolo Toure, who failed to emerge for the second half of the 2-2 draw at Liverpool with a back injury. Sylvinho is available again after a calf strain. Martin Petrov will miss out, however, due to a knee injury, but Vincent Kompany and Michael Johnson came through a midweek reserve team game unscathed.
Hull travel across the Pennines boosted by a 3-2 midweek home win over Everton, with the Tigers having roared into a three-goal lead within the first half-hour at the KC Stadium.
Hull have won two of their last three games in an unbeaten run which has lifted them clear of the relegation zone and will believe they can cause an upset.
On Boxing Day last year, with the Tigers trailing 4-0 at the interval, Brown kept his players on the pitch for a very public half-time dressing down.
A repeat performance 11 months on is highly unlikely, particularly with suggestions that many Hull players were less than impressed to be subjected to an on-field humiliation.
Jimmy Bullard is back in contention for Hull. The influential midfielder, sidelined for most of the year with a knee injury, was rested for the midweek win over Everton.
Forward Craig Fagan is also fit again and Bernard Mendy is available after suspension.
Midfielder Seyi Olofinjana suffering a hamstring injury would again be missing but could come back into contention next week.
REVIEW:
Manchester City played out a seventh successive draw as Hull City came back to hold them 1-1.
Following six straight Premier League draws, Shaun Wright-Phillips' goal looked to have got City's season back on track, only for Bullard to fire in from the spot to make it four games unbeaten and plunge Eastlands into frustration yet again.
After all the drama of the past three months, including arguments with Brazil about his ankle and the player seemingly courting Barcelona, Robinho finally got back out on the field to show what all the fuss is about.
Once again playing on the left of a four-man midfield, a role that requires tracking back and all sorts, Robinbo quickly looked like he wanted to prove a point and he had a key role in a first half that saw City completely dominate but waste a host of chances.
At a time when referees seem to be being berated at every turn, Probert deserves plenty of credit for the way he did his job, applying an advantage City took maximum advantage of.
In ferrying the ball quickly up field, the Blues finally gave themselves a chance to run at the Hull defence. Wright-Phillips eventually found himself with the ball at his feet, letting fly from 20 yards.
Duke was finally tested with a stab at goal from Emmanuel Adebayor and Robinho also failed to hit the target with an ambitious over-head kick.
But in first-half added time, City took the lead, courtesy of a wicked deflection. Carlos Tevez picked out Wright-Phillips and the England winger skipper around a challenge from Hunt and hit an early shot that kicked off Anthony Gardner and somehow beat Duke at the near post.
Yet Mark Hughes’ men improved after the break and Wright-Phillips was denied a penalty after a tug by Hunt sent him tumbling in the box only for referee Lee Probert to wave the home sides’ appeals away.
With an hour gone Brown opted to change things sending on Nicky Barmby and George Boateng and the Tigers continued to look a threat on the break against a City side unable to find that crucial second goal.
Indeed as the City of Manchester Stadium grew nervous with their narrow lead Mark Hughes made changes himself, sending on Roque Santa Cruz and Craig Bellamy as he sought to turn his side’s dominance into goals.
Yet Hull continued to battle bravely and with less than 10 minutes they made the home side pay after Kolo Toure tangled with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink leaving the Dutchman on the turf and the referee pointing to the spot.
Up stepped Bullard who made no mistake from 12 yards smashing the ball past Given to bring the scores level with previous little time remaining.
The home side attacked but could not find a breakthrough and were forced to settle for yet another stalemate which will continue the frustration at Eastlands. Hull, meanwhile, were left to celebrate another fine result which sees them unbeaten in their last three outings.