Hull City will be looking to put a turbulent week behind them when they host Stoke City at the KC Stadium, and boss Phil Brown knows all too well the importance of the fixture.

To say that a year is a very long time in football is an understatement of astronomical proportions when you are describing Hull City Football Club.

Indeed, in this very week a year ago, Hull City won many plaudits as they battled back from 4-1 down to narrowly lose 4-3 to champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.

At the time, on the back of a simply sensational start to their first ever campaign in the English top-flight, few would have foreseen that the Tigers (who at one point were third in the table) would eventually escape relegation on the last day of the season by a single point.

But so dramatic was the Tigers’ collapse that that is exactly what happened. And their horrendous run of form has continued into this season. Phil Brown’s men are stranded in the Premier League drop zone with only two victories to their name so far this term.

Couple this with five defeats in their last seven games, as well as the acrimonious departure of ex-chairman Paul Duffen following the announcement that the club is some £27million in debt, and to the average on-looker Hull appear to be a club heading for disaster.

Now coach Phil Brown faces perhaps his biggest 90 minutes as coach at the KC Stadium as his men entertain Tony Pulis’ Stoke City on the back of a 2-0 loss away to Burnley.

The bad news is that Hull have failed to overcome the Potters in their last six meetings and play host to a side who have only lost once on their travels all season.

A victory for Stoke will move them up to eighth in the table on 19 points – and that would be just one point behind money-bags Manchester City! Now that is food for thought.

On the other hand, defeat for the hosts could spell the end for coach Phil Brown’s tenure at the KC Stadium.

Team News:

Hull will be without Brazilian play-maker Geovanni who is suspended following his harsh red-card in the 2-0 defeat away to Burnley last week.

Midfielder Jimmy Bullard (calf) and goalkeeper Boaz Myhill (knee) are both struggling whilst Ian Ashbee is a long-term absentee.

Stoke will have to do without striker Mamady Sidibie and defensive midfielder Amdy Faye who has a back injury.

Otherwise, Tony Pulis has more or less a full-strength squad to pick from.

Probable Starting XIs, Star Man:

Hull City (4-5-1): Duke, Zayatte, Gardner, McShane, Dawson, Hunt, Olofinjana, Kilbane, Marney, Ghilas, Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Stoke (4-4-2): Sorensen, Wilkinson, Faye, Shawcross, Collins, Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington, Beattie, Fuller.

ExtraFootie's Prediction: Hull 2-2 Stoke. In a must win game for Phil Brown’s men we can see them taking the game to Stoke City. But Hull’s main problems lie in defence and this may cost them ultimately.