Hull City dropped into the EPL relegation zone when they crashed 5-1 at in-form Everton last Sunday, their heaviest away defeat of the season.

The two clubs’ fortunes have varied wildly since the Tigers took a three-nil first-half lead in their corresponding fixture at the KC Stadium earlier this season.

And Hull were unable to cope with the Merseysiders’ second-half onslaught after going into the half-time break 2-1 down.

 

Manager Phil Brown admitted afterwards: “I thought we were competitive in the first half but we certainly weren’t in the second. We left our game in the changing room for whatever reason.”

Brown also added: “In the second half, we lacked a game plan,” which is a frank admission from a manager, the man presumably in charge of “game plans.”

City are now second from bottom in the EPL, behind Wolves on goal difference and Burnley by a point, although they have two games in hand on the Clarets going into this Saturday evening’s televised hosting of EPL title challengers Arsenal, which kicks off at 5.30pm.

There was mixed news on the injury front. Despite the defeat, Hull were delighted to see Jimmy Bullard get through his latest first-team comeback unscathed and he hasn’t suffered any post-match reaction, which leaves him fit for the Arsenal game.

Striker Craig Fagan, influential attacking midfielder Stephen Hunt and central defender Andy Dawson also look likely to be available for the Gunners’ visit, the latter two having been ever-present this season before missing the Goodison Park contest.

Fagan returns after his suspension for his dismissal during the Tigers’ 3-0 defeat at West Ham three weeks ago.

Hunt was told to rest an on-going foot injury about which manager Brown told the Hull Daily Mail: “Fingers crossed he will have sufficient rest to play against Arsenal.”

The injury is thought to require an operation but the Republic of Ireland international is reportedly prepared to delay the treatment until the season is over and play through the pain barrier in the meantime.

Dawson, meanwhile missed the Everton match with a bad bout of asthma, Brown noting that many had “tried to highlight Andy’s limitations” but that “when he’s not there, you see how much you miss him.” Dawson is expected to return to fill the left-back role.

However, it was confirmed late last week that Anthony Gardner will be out until possibly the middle of next month with the ankle ligament damage he suffered towards the end of the West Ham game.

It was initially feared that the injury-prone former Tottenham central defender had broken his leg. But the six week absence is still a blow as Hull are right in the middle of the relegation dogfight.

Gardner will miss not only the Arsenal game but KC Stadium encounters with Fulham and fellow bottom-three dwellers Burnley, as well as the trip to bottom side Portsmouth on March 20^th, all considered winnable fixtures.

He is not expected to return until the trip to Birmingham City on April 17^th.