' Its Going to be Tough '

Hull City v Cardiff City: 'Impeccable' home form is key - Bruce

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By Hull Daily Mail

Wednesday January 13, 2016

By Philip Buckingham


LET'S BE HARD TO BEAT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD: Hull City boss Steve Bruce.


STEVE Bruce believes Hull City's "impeccable" home form can lay the foundations for an instant return to the Premier League.


The Tigers will aim to boost their automatic promotion hopes tonight by adding Cardiff City to a long list of rivals conquered at the KC Stadium this season.

A 10th Championship win on home soil would lift City up to second after Derby County drew 1-1 at home to Reading last night.

And in a week that will also see the Tigers host lowly Charlton Athletic on Saturday, Bruce wants to continue a formidable record in their own backyard.


"You always need your home form to stack up if you're going to be successful. That's the same in any division," said Bruce.

"Thankfully we've managed that and long may it continue.

"I wish we could match it away from home. Then we'd be practically unbeatable. It's one defeat in 17 games in all competitions so we want that to continue.

"We've got back-to-back home games coming up and we want to win them both if we can.

"That would be great. It's never easy but our home form has been impeccable really so we need to keep it up.

"There's no reason why we can't. We've started the new year well. We've been reminded of what a good squad we've got so let's put that to the test. It's all to play for."

City's only blemish on home soil this season was a 2-0 loss to Derby in November but a return of 29 points from a possible 36 at the KC has placed Bruce's men firmly in the promotion hunt.

"Teams coming here are trying to stop us, rather than trying to win the game," added Bruce. "I think most teams would be delighted to come away with a draw.

"Sometimes you have to be a bit patient but more often than not we've eventually found a way."

City will be favourites to make it five wins on the spin at the KC when welcoming a Cardiff side humbled by League One strugglers Shrewsbury in the FA Cup on Sunday. That turned up the heat on boss Russell Slade, who is reportedly fighting to save his job.



City won 2-0 in South Wales back in September but Bruce is not taking tonight's visitors lightly.

"When we were down there (in September) they were right up in the play-off area but I actually think Russell has done a fantastic job in a difficult situation," said Bruce.

"They've had a horrible fall-out from the Premier League. The ground used to be full to the rafters but unfortunately they've fallen into the Championship and they've had to cut their cloth. He's had to make so many changes in that respect and you have to say well done because they're still competitive.

"There's not one in the division where you think you'll have it easy. I was talking to Chris Hughton at the weekend and he was saying the same.

"Whoever you play, you'll find it difficult at this level."

I have a feeling 2-1 to city

I have a feeling 2-1 to city

Then 80 of us Citys tonight will be dancing in the away end

You never know

I have a feeling 2-1 to city

Then 80 of us Citys tonight will be dancing in the away end

You never know

I think we can banish Sunday's shenanigans to the back of our minds. There'll be more quality on the park for us tonight. A (very hopeful) 0-1 Blooooobirds!!!

I have a feeling 2-1 to city

Then 80 of us Citys tonight will be dancing in the away end

You never know

I think we can banish Sunday's shenanigans to the back of our minds. There'll be more quality on the park for us tonight. A (very hopeful) 0-1 Blooooobirds!!!

I'm hopeful and a full strength Bluebirds side on its day can beat any Championship club

Every game is tough with Slade in charge

You only have to look at Shrewsbury never mind Hull

MATCH FACTS

Hull have lost only one of their past seven against Cardiff in the league, winning four.
Cardiff have kept only one clean sheet in their past nine visits to Hull - February 2011, when they won 2-0.
Robert Snodgrass has scored in three of his past five appearances against the Bluebirds.
Last time out, Cardiff's Joe Mason netted his sixth goal of the season - surpassing his goal total for 2014-15.
The Tigers have won six of their past seven league games at the KC Stadium, losing the other.
Hull City have seen 16 players find the back of the net for them this season - a league-high total.

Hull were by far the best team I have seen this season at the CCS, even though we played well against them, they easily beat us 2 nil if i remember correctly.

I always hope for a win or even a draw away - sadly I fear they will be far far far far far too good for us

Then I hope Slade gets sacked - that is the first time I have ever wanted a city manager to go