Well, for a start, the Tigers are crafted in the image of their manager, Steve Bruce.  Hard and not pretty.  So, expect a lot of men back behind the ball with Tom Huddlestone's passing out of the last third being their weapon of choice to release Sone Aluko or Robbie Brady if the are fit enough to start after a shin and a hip injury respectively.  Injuries have hit the Yorkshire side early and their squad will be tested, as they are also missing midfield creator and club captain, Robert Koren, along with the on loan Sunderland striker Danny Graham.  Steve Harper will be coming in to cover for the thigh injured Alan McGregor and another on the sidelines is James Chester with a hamstring pull.

Hull have been hard to beat this season and this game will prove no different, as they are well drilled and get a lot of men back behind the ball, so Spurs will have to work hard in midfield to pull the Tigers players out of shape.  In doing so, they will need to make sure that there is enough attention to the defensive side of our game, with Paulinho likely to be partnered by Sandro once more, allowing the new signing to give rein to his forward runs from deep.

Harper is an experienced keeper, but was content to be number two for long periods at Newcastle United before leaving this summer after being granted a testimonial.  He can be a useful stopper, but his attention to angles is not all it should be and for a skilled striker like Roberto Soldado, he might be able to find a way past the goalie, now he has found his scoring form in open play.  It was always going to happen, but the Press were starting to get on his back, with his goal at Villa coming at the right time. 

The Hull defence have been working well as a unit, with Curtis Davies signed from Birmingham City to lead the team from centre-half.  His aerial presence can be effective at both ends of the pitch, but with his partnership with James Chester, the former Man U youth teamer, being broken, he will perhaps have former United man Paul McShane or manager's son Alex alongside him or maybe Abdoulaye Faye with him in the middle, although he now is losing a bit of pace.  The full back positions will see two of three and with Spurs quick on the wings, they might be chosen on those grounds.  Liam Rosenior and Maynor Figueroa are the most likely candidates to fill in the wide positions in the back four.

Midfield is where the Tigers are ish.  Teams have to work hard to get through them and missing Koren and Livermore, they will be without two regulars, who have impressed in the Premier League season so far.  Jake cannot play against Spurs, so the middle five will look like this ... Huddlestone, Elmohamady, George Boyd and Irishman David Mayler.  Boyd has shown great skill in his progress through Peterborough and Hull after leaving Stevenage, but might find things harder in the top flight. Elmohamady is a tricky runner with the ball (and a weird dancer from his antics in front of the camera when Hull were promoted last season), but he can cross well from wide positions,

If Brady and Aluko don't make it, then there may be an opportunity for Gedo, an Egyptian striker who was on loan last season.  Brady is the top scorer and Aluko is capable of scoring outrageously fine goals, but often can be pushed out of the game too easily.  Other striking options include Yannick Sagbo, Aaron McLean, German Nick Proschwitz and Calaum Jahraldo-Martin, who hails from Antigua and Barbuda.

With injuries playing their part, it looks on paper as if Spurs should stroll to victory in this match, but in the last two visits to the Lane, Hull have held Spurs goal-less and will be aiming to do the same again, but this Spurs side has patience, which might be tested on Sunday.  It will be vital to try to stretch the Hull back four and midfield, with sharper moves getting the ball out wide, where Andros Townsend and Kyle Walker should renew their partnership n the right wing after both being rested in the Europa League match mid-week.

I think Tottenham will win, but it won't be the fluid football we like to see, but more of a war of attrition.

TV
Match of the Day 2  (BBC 2) - Sunday 22.35 - 23.35 (highlights)  Also available online.
For coverage in all parts of the world, check here and here.

Radio :  
BBC LONDON 94.9FM (London area only), Digital Radio (London area only) &  Sky Channel 0152  (live coverage)
Commentary may be found on
>   BBC Radio Five Live (live coverage)  606/939 MW
>  TalkSport (DAB or 1089 MW)
>  Absolute Radio  (1215 AM/MW)

If available on BBC radio, it can supposedly be heard in these countries on these stations ...
Australia (Melbourne) SEN  -  116 AM  Live Transmissions: TWI, Saturday. 12.45 & 1500 matches
Australia (Sydney)  Radio 2  -  1611AM  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 12.45 Match
Singapore Media Corp Radio  -  93.8 FM  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 15.00 Match
South Africa  SABC (Radio 2000)  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 15.00 Match
Uganda  Radio 1 (English) 90.0 FM, Radio 2 (Lugandan) 87.9 FM  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 15.00 Match
North America (USA, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean)  Sirius Satellite Radio  Live transmission: Saturday - 12.45, 15.00 (TWI) & 17.15 (BBC) Sunday - 14.00 & 16.05 (BBC) Mon, Tue, Wed - Various times (BBC)

Internet :
www.spurs.co.uk   Live webcast  - subscribers only
BBC London - http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/10/12/live_commentaries_feature.shtml click on link to "Listen to Tottenham Hotspur live commentary" on top right hand menu.

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