Who would have thought that Hull City would be looking to win their third game in a row against West Ham, let alone that coming off the back of away victories at Arsenal and Tottenham. No doubt about the Tigers being the surprise package of the season but can they continue their impressive run this weekend?
West Ham had made a good start to life under new manager Gianfranco Zola with two wins out of two before suffering a hiccup against Bolton before the international break.The honeymoon period for Zola is over and with the Hammers facing all kind of financial problems perhaps the enormity of the task is beginning to dawn on the little Italian.
Hull on the other hand are on the up and up despite being dubbed the 'new Derby' before the season started the Tigers have already eclipsed the Rams woeful total. The trip to Humberside for the Hammers is one that Zola wouldn't have wished for because the levels of confidence at the KC Stadium must be higher than any other Premier League side.
From back to front Hull are beginning to develop into a nice little unit with Boaz Myhill in inspirational form, whilst Michael Turner and Andy Dawson have made the step up to the top division with ease. Ian Ashbee is another who has been with the club since they were trawling the lower leagues but now looks like a decent defensive midfielder.
Then there is Geovanni, surely one of the steals of the season, after joining Hull on a free transfer from Man City. He has been instrumental in Hull's last two games, not just because of his two goals either. The Brazilian has that touch of quality that promoted sides need to stay in this division and he certainly has an eye for goal.
So based on this assessment you'd think that Hull are red hot favourites in the football betting to heap more misery on the Hammers fans. However I wouldn't be so sure because a big factor in a good run of form is momentum, something which Hull may have lost with the international break.
Things aren't all bad for West Ham with Hull managing just one victory in their three home games this season, that win coming on the opening day of the season against Fulham. It's not like West Ham have had a bad season either, despite sacking Alan Curbishley the club still find themselves in the top six with four victories from their first seven games.
So with all that in mind I think the best option will be to sit on the fence and go for a draw, with the football odds suggesting that might be the outcome. However if I was forced to make a decision you'd have to back the Tigers to once again upset the odds.
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