Jimmy Bullard’s inevitable return to the midfield seems set to be the only necessary change that Phil Brown will make for tomorrow’s much-discussed trip to Manchester City in the Premier League.
Bullard missed the midweek victory over Everton purely as a precaution as he continues to find full fitness, but will almost certainly come into the team as the Tigers revisit the scene of their manager’s supposed nadir of the last campaign.
Expect little national attention to be paid to the club’s excellent form going into the game at Eastlands, and loads to be paid to Brown’s impromptu half time team talk on the pitch when City were 4-0 down there on Boxing Day. Regardless of the players saying it didn’t tarnish their respect for their manager and the fans stating a qualified approval of the way Brown let it be known he was not happy with the display, the media – and especially ex-pros within it – has used the unorthodox tactic as a stick to beat Brown with ever since, especially as the Tigers subsequently sank without trace towards the relegation zone over the following months and only just stayed up.
City have acquired seven points from nine at the KC since their last awayday and now need to transfer their home form to their travels, having accrued just a solitary point on the road this season. The pressure and expectation will all be on their hosts, of whom big things are expected thanks to their hefty financial investment in players, but they have spluttered a little at home of late.
Richard Garcia has looked a little lacklustre in midfield and is likely to drop out, and Dean Marney will shift a little wider to accommodate the returning Bullard. There could (and should) be a recall in goal for Boaz Myhill but otherwise, despite the probable availability of Craig Fagan after injury and Bernard Mendy after a ban, Brown will want to alter things as little as possible. Bullard’s reinstatement will also mean both he and Geovanni, returning to his former side, will start a Hull City game simultaneously for the first time – a prospect to make Tiger Nation mouths water.
Manchester City are missing Martin Petrov with a knee injury but are otherwise at full strength.
