Match Pack: Hull vs Saints
The Sky Bet Championship season resumes on Saturday with Saints facing a trip to Hull. Get set for the clash with our Match Pack...
THE MATCH
Hull City vs Saints
Sky Bet Championship
MKM Stadium
Saturday 21st October, 3pm BST
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
Assistants: Shaun Hudson, Nigel Lugg
Fourth official: Marc Edwards
WHAT KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?
Saints will be wearing their white away kit with ocean teal trim.
Saints will be back in their away kit on Saturday
HOW TO WATCH?
Off the back of three league games unbeaten we’ll be looking to make it four against Hull and international fans, whether you have a Season Pass or you’re buying match-by-match (£10), you’ll be able to stream video coverage of the game.
Video coverage of Saints vs Hull won’t be available through Saints Play to fans in the UK and Ireland because of the 3pm kick-off blackout but it will be available to international fans.
Everyone, including those of you in the UK and Ireland, will be able to listen to audio coverage of the weekend’s action, too.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
With the domestic campaign resuming, Saints will want to extend their three-game unbeaten run. Having previously lost four on the spin, Russell Martin's side have swung the pendulum of momentum back in their favour taking seven points from an available nine.
On paper, there's nothing between the two sides on Saturday. Level on points, the Tigers began the season in impressive fashion, but return to the MKM Stadium this weekend winless in their last three outings.
However, yet to taste defeat on home soil, Leroy Rosenior's side will prove a tough test for a Saints side targeting a move into the top six.
TEAM NEWS
Despite withdrawing from England Under-21 duty with a hamstring injury, Taylor Harwood-Bellis is fit for selection this weekend.
The defender's availability means Russell Martin has no fresh injury concerns, with Jack Stephens, Juan Larios and Ross Stewart the only guaranteed absentees.
For the hosts, they've received a boost in the form of top scorer Ozan Tufan declared fit to feature for the first time in five matches.
THE MANAGERS
Leroy Rosenior: To follow.
Russell Martin: "It will be an interesting challenge for us. Leroy has done a really good job there and we probably share a lot of similar beliefs on game model and how we like our teams to play, still different obviously, but I've got a lot of respect for that and we're fully aware we had a tough game against them at the end of last season and go there fully aware of what they can bring but focus has to be on us."
TOP SCORERS
Hull
Goals:
Aaron Connolly 5
Ozan Tufan 4
Traoré, Delap, Slater 2
Assists:
Jaden Philogene 3
Morto, Michaël Seri 2
Traoré, Delap, Slater, McLoughlin, Jones 1
Southampton
Goals:
Adam Armstrong 7
Ché Adams 3
Edozie, S Armstrong 2
ONES TO WATCH
Ozan Tufan: Hull's talismanic Turkey international has missed the last four games, but will likely return to action at MKM Stadium on Saturday. The midfielder has enjoyed home comforts so far this season, scoring four goals in three appearances in East Yorkshire.
With Champions League experience from his time at Fenerbaçhe, Tufan will have to be well marshalled by Saints on Saturday.
Stuart Armstrong: Fresh from winning two further Scotland caps, the marauding midfielder will look to carry on where he left off in a Saints shirt.
Scoring a stunning winner against Stoke before following it up with a goal against Rotherham before the international break, Armstrong is aiming to score in a third consecutive league game for the first time in a Saints shirt.
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 59
Hull: 15
Draws: 21
Saints: 23
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
April 2017: Saints 0-0 Hull
November 2016: Hull 2-1 Saints (Austin)
April 2015: Saints 2-0 Hull (Ward-Prowse, Pellè)
November 2014: Hull 0-1 Saints (Wanyama)
February 2014: Hull 0-1 Saints (Fonte)
DID YOU KNOW?
Over 50% (9/17) of Saints’ league goals this season have been scored by players called Armstrong – Adam (7) and Stuart (2), with the latter looking to score in three league games in a row for the first time since March/April 2017 when he played for Celtic (four in a row).
KEEP UP TO DATE
Not joining us in Hull? We’ve got you covered! We’ll bring you all the behind-the-scenes content alongside the in-game action as Saints head north.
Check out our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com, with live streaming of the game, key updates and audio commentary of the match, and be sure to download the official Saints app and follow us on social media for further updates and exclusive content:
