Hull are all over the place at the back today. Harry Maguire looked very uncertain just now as he tried to clear the danger posed by Saido Berahino, but instead slammed the ball into the Stoke striker who saw his subsequent shot blocked by the Hull player. 

Stoke have the ball in the net again through Saido Berahino but the flag had already been raised. The replay shows the assistant got it right.

Image source, Reuters

A reminder that Hull have earned an unrivalled nine points from losing positions since Silva's appointment on 5 January. More of the same required today it would seem.

So very nearly two for the home side!

Xherdan Shaqiri, who scored both goals in Stoke's win at Hull earlier in the season, lifted a delightful ball over the Hull defence for Marko Arnautovic to take an effort on the volley but this time he gets it wrong and fires wildly over.

A big let off for Hull.

Danny Mills
Ex-England defender on Final Score

Often Marko Arnautovic blazes that sort of chance over the bar, but this time it was right into the top corner.

Lazar Markovic has been in good form for Hull in recent times and it is to him they look on a couple of early breaks forward. Nothing doing yet for the on-loan Liverpool winger.

There was some uncertainty over the Hull line up - three at the back or four? Looks like a four with Harry Maguire at right-back.

Stuart Attwell blows the whistle and away we go.

Kevin Kilbane
Former Hull winger on Final Score

Mike Phelan got a good start this season but the squad had insufficient strength. Marco Silva came in and to be fair the transfer policy has been excellent. And the side, structurally, looks really well organised.

I wouldn't be surprised if today Hull try to grind out a goalless draw.

Hull City

• Hull have won 17 points from 12 games since Marco Silva was appointed as head coach - the ninth best record in the division.
• However, only one point has been earned on the road; Hull have lost 13 of their last 14 away games.
• The Tigers have conceded 17 goals in their six away defeats in 2017.
• They have earned an unrivalled nine points from losing positions since Silva's appointment on 5 January.

The players have been stood in the tunnel for a few minutes and the Hull contingent look full of nervous energy. They know this is a big one. 

Out they come.

Image source, Rex Features

If you base the Premier League table on when Marco Silva took after at Hull, the Tigers would be ninth in the table.

The debate now is not about whether he has a "clue" or knows anything about the Premier League, external - but whether Hull will be able to hold off interest from Inter Milan to keep him next season.

Asked about his critics in the Daily Telegraph today,, external the 39-year-old is polite, but to the point.

“People have asked me this question and the fact is: they didn’t do their homework about my career, did they?”

Danny Mills
Ex-England defender on Final Score

In recent seasons Stoke have tailed off towards the end of the campaign. Mark Hughes will want his side to finish strongly and, if they get a couple of wins, they'll rocket up the table.

Stoke City

• Stoke are in danger of losing five successive top-flight fixtures for the first time since a 10-match streak in 1985.
• They could suffer three successive home defeats for the first time in the Premier League, and in any division since September 2005 in the Championship.
• The Potters have scored just twice in five matches, with both goals coming from Jon Walters.

Mark Lawrenson
Former Liverpool defender

Stoke are having a shocking time, with four straight defeats. I see them bouncing back with a win here though, because Hull are just not the same force on the road.

Prediction: 2-0

Lawro's full predictions v singer Sting

Head-to-head

• Stoke have suffered just one defeat against Hull in 13 league meetings (W6, D6).
• Hull have failed to score in five of their last six encounters with Stoke.
• However, Hull won 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium earlier this season in the EFL Cup.

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes: "(Our) mindset is good. We've had a run of fixtures that was always going to test us.

"We have done okay in games but made mistakes to allow good opposition good opportunities to score.

"We've got six games to go and we are going to try to win every one."

Hull City head coach Marco Silva: "We need to pick up points away to stay in the Premier League.

"We need to show and prove we can do that. It is important to end the run away from home.

"I think Stoke is a good chance for us. We must believe."