After hammering Sheffield Wednesday 7-0 in mid-week, Premier League champions Manchester City are finding form just in time to visit Hull City on Saturday. Brad Rial looks at how the Tigers can emulate Stoke City by taking all three points off Manuel Pellegrini's men.1) Rest Andrew Robertson
As impressive as Andrew Robertson has been so far this season, he may benefit from sitting this one out. The left-back was at fault for Newcastle's equaliser last Saturday as his inexperience showed, and after playing all but two minutes of City's Premier League campaign so far, a rest may be just what the doctor ordered.
If he does start, expect Robertson to let nobody down, but in Robbie Brady, Bruce has a ready-made replacement and the Irishman looks to have rediscovered a touch of form after scoring in midweek.2) Play 3-5-2
Almost all of Hull City's successes under Steve Bruce have come playing 3-5-2. It got the Tigers to the Premier League and kept them there. But this season, as he beds in his numerous new signings, Bruce has switched to a back four, albeit with attacking full-backs.
The results have been mixed. City have gained an attacking edge but at the cost of the defensive solidity on which Bruce has prided himself. City's only clean sheet in the league so far this season came when playing 3-5-2 at QPR on the opening day.
Reverting to a 3-5-2, would allow Ahmed Elmohamady and Andrew Robertson (or Robbie Brady) to push on as wingbacks with a little more insurance, and would see James Chester return at the heart of the defence.
City could learn a thing or two from Stoke, who set up to frustrate and contain their hosts when winning at the Etihad last month. The Potters had only 28 per cent of the possession and nicked a goal on the counter. 3) Stop Frank Lampard
Whether he starts or comes on from the bench, Hull City will have to be on their toes to prevent Frank Lampard adding to his three goals this season. Manuel Pellegrini has an embarrassment of riches in the final third, but the on-loan Lampard poses just as much of a threat as Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko or David Silva.
When Phil Brown's Tigers took on Chelsea back in October 2008, Lampard was, by some distance, the best player on the pitch as the Blues cruised to a 3-0 win. While the now-36-year-old midfielder may not be quite at that level, he has shown in the past week that he is still a potent threat.
The job of keeping tabs on him will likely fall on the shoulders of Mohamed Diame and Jake Livermore in the centre of the Tigers midfield, and they may have to modify their attacking ambitions to guard against his signature late runs.4) Unleash the game-changer Ben Arfa from the bench
Few aspects of Wednesday night's defeat at West Brom will have delighted Steve Bruce, but he will at least have been pleased to see Hatem Ben Arfa complete the match unscathed. Bruce has already confirmed that the Frenchman won't start tomorrow but his performance at The Hawthorns should mean he will feature at some point.
If the Tigers are in the game heading into the final twenty minutes, Ben Arfa is the man with the ability to produce something out of nothing. The occasion doesn't get much bigger than Manchester City at home and if he gets a chance tomorrow, expect him to seize it with both hands. 5) Get in their faces
Nikica Jelavic has had a cracking start to the season and has history against Man City. When the Blues last visited the KC back in March, he rattled Vincent Kompany and got him sent off.
While the Tigers failed to capitalise on Kompany's early dismissal on that occasion, Jelavic will be expected to lead from the front again this time. Put simply, Bruce's men must get in the faces of their opponents from the first whistle and stop them settling, or it could be a long afternoon.
