Team news and line-ups for Hull City v Crystal Palace at the KC Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday, October 4 (kick-off 3pm). Read a match report and reaction at full-time.Hull City
Allan McGregor will miss his first Premier League game of the season in the Hull City goal after being ruled out with a shoulder injury this week.
The Scotland international had played in every minute of the campaign but scans on a shoulder injury have ruled him out for up to a month.
The door is left open for Steve Harper to come back into the side for his first Premier League start since May, with his experience getting the nod ahead of Eldin Jakupovic.
Manager Steve Bruce may also be persuaded into making unenforced changes elsewhere as he aims to tighten up his defence.
James Chester is knocking on the door should the Tigers boss favour the 3-5-2 system that delivered big returns last season, while the defensive capabilities of Liam Rosenior will rival the attacking talents of Ahmed Elmohamady and Andy Robertson as wing-backs.
Further changes could come in midfield. Both Hatem Ben Arfa and Gaston Ramirez are closer than ever to claiming a first Premier League start for the club, putting pressure on the likes of Jake Livermore.
Only Robert Snodgrass (knee) joins McGregor in the treatment room so it will be another selection dilemma for Bruce just to fill his substitutes bench.Possible Hull City line-up: 3-5-2: Harper; Chester, Dawson, Davies; Elmohamady, Diame, Huddlestone, Livermore, Robertson; Jelavic, Hernandez. Subs: Jakupovic (GK), Bruce, Rosenior, Quinn, Aluko, Ben Arfa, Ramirez.Crystal Palace
Two wins in two Premier League games points towards Neil Warnock naming an unchanged side for Crystal Palace.
The Eagles have been flying high since the appointment of Warnock and four Premier League games in charge have returned an impressive eight points.
Continuity has run throughout the side without any injury concerns of late and a fully-fit squad leaves the Palace boss with options should he seek change.
Marouane Chamakh will be under consideration after recovering from hamstring troubles. The Morocco striker was fit enough to come off the bench in last weekend's 2-0 win over Leicester but may have to be patient given the form of strike rival Fraizer Campbell.
The former City loan star has scored in his last two Premier League starts and currently holds the aces in attack.
Another ex-Tiger on show will be Palace's defensive linchpin with Damien Delaney partnering Scott Dann at the back.
Stars of the show at present are the wing pairing of Yannick Bolasie and Jason Puncheon.
The two wingers bring a dynamic edge to Palace's attacking play in a 4-2-3-1 system and are currently performing well enough to keep crowd favourite Wilfried Zaha out of the picture.Possible Crystal Palace line-up: 4-2-3-1: Speroni; Ward, Delaney, Dann, Kelly; Jedinak, McArthur; Bolasie, Ledley, Puncheon; Campbell.Subs: Hennessey (GK), Mariappa, Guedioura, Gayle, Zaha, Doyle, Chamakh.Key battleAhmed Elmohamady v Yannick Bolasie. Crystal Palace have one of the Premier League's leading lights this season in the shape of Yannick Bolasie. The Congo international was always considered a rough diamond when working his way up from Plymouth and Bristol City, but a move to Selhurst Park two years ago has seen him blossom into a hugely effective winger.
The unpredictability within his skilful game has tormented full-backs this season and Ahmed Elmohamady, whether at right-back or a wing-back, will need to be on his mettle.
Elmohamady, who is set to make his 63rd consecutive league appearance for the Tigers, can be just as effective with his pin-point crossing game and needs to force Bolasie back and work on Joel Ward.Palace form guide
The cobwebs have been blown out by Crystal Palace since the appointment of Neil Warnock and eight points from the last four games have banished memories of defeats in their opening two Premier League games. A 3-2 win at Everton two weeks ago was the moment their season came alive following draws with Newcastle and Burnley and last weekend they followed it up with a deserved 2-0 win at home to Leicester. Not even a League Cup exit to Newcastle can dampen the mood.Philip Buckingham's preview
THE performances served up by Hull City this season have been one thing but points are all that matter on Saturday.
Three to be exact. Crystal Palace's visit to the KC needs to bring a timely win for Steve Bruce and his men, especially with Arsenal and Liverpool on the horizon.
There has been much to celebrate in the Tigers' progression this season but clinging to positivity becomes an arduous task when results do not follow.
At no stage of last season did City go six games without a win. When three points were needed, they arrived. The wolf was always kept from the door.
The five winless games that precede Crystal Palace's visit on Saturday have mostly been encouraging, but without a victory it will feel like an awfully long international break.
Palace, seeking a third straight win, will be no pushovers under Neil Warnock but this can be the day it clicks.
Fine margins are all that split City from the top half at present and so long as defensive lines hold, an overdue win can be found.Prediction: Hull City 2 Crystal Palace 1
