OF the 10 teams Hull City have faced in all four of their Premier League seasons, Manchester United remain the only opponent to deny them a single point.
Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have all been conquered in the top-flight years, while even Chelsea were outfoxed for a share of the spoils in February 2010.
Manchester United, however, have always had too much. In six Premier League meetings between the clubs, the Tigers have been beaten on every occasion.
Steve Bruce tomorrow leads City back to Old Trafford, his home for nine seasons as a player, tasked with ending that record if his side are to steer clear of the relegation zone and can take heart from two narrow defeats last season. On Boxing Day, in particular, it needed a fightback from 2-0 down to preserve United's unblemished modern record.
But for the 2,500 travelling fans heading across the Pennines tomorrow, it will be memories of a visit to Old Trafford six years ago that provide greatest hope of an upset.
On November 1, 2008, the first league meeting between Manchester United and Hull City for 33 years, supporters were treated to a seven-goal thriller at the home of the then reigning Premier League champions.
Against a United team that included Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Edwin van der Sar and current captain Wayne Rooney, City refused to surrender.
As well as Daniel Cousin canceling out Ronaldo's opener midway through the first half, the Tigers almost turned around a 4-1 deficit through goals from Bernard Mendy and a Geovanni penalty in an absorbing second half.
Although eight minutes remained to find that fourth goal, Phil Brown's men could not quite complete the miracle.
The long-serving Paul McShane is the only survivor from that fixture still in the City ranks. The defender recalls a defiance in the Tigers' performance on that Old Trafford visit, one they must reproduce against Louis Van Gaal's men tomorrow.
"We had a right go that day," recalled McShane this week. "I can remember the atmosphere. They went 4-1 up and we got two goals in the second half.
"They got a bit scared that day. We were in the ascendancy at the end and sadly we couldn't get the fourth goal. It was a great game to be involved in.
"You might as well go and have a go at these teams. It's always the same when you go to these tough places. You never have to get motivated for them and Manchester United away at Old Trafford will be one all the lads are looking forward to."
Much has changed for City in the six years that have passed, just as they have with Manchester United.
The departure of Sir Alex Ferguson 18 months ago has seen a great empire fall and now it is left to Van Gaal to rebuild in a mixed season that still sees them fourth in the table.
So along with bravery, what else must City produce this weekend?
"You need good performances across the team," said McShane, who was schooled at United's academy until 2006. "We played well in that first half against Spurs last weekend but we just needed that second goal to kill the game a little bit.
"If we can go there and start well then it puts them under pressure. I know they've won the last couple of games and they're in the top four but it's not the Manchester United we once knew.
"It's all new for them; a new manager and new ideas. It's not an impossible task."
The form book suggests City are in for a tough assignment. A day after United won 2-1 at Arsenal, the most impressive result of the Van Gaal reign, City suffered their third consecutive defeat when beaten 2-1 by Tottenham at the KC Stadium.
A return of 11 points from 12 games leaves the Tigers level pegging with the class of 2009-10, who were eventually relegated back to the Championship.
McShane has no doubt City are better equipped to avoid such a set-back but knows only positive results can support that theory.
"This is a better squad but what are we judging it on? On paper?" he said.
"It's hard. That's the thing people fall into. When we're making all the signings everyone does get carried away and that's natural but we need to get results and that's the bottom line.
"It's all about results. We could have signed Messi and Ronaldo but if we're still losing it's no good.
"Wins aren't coming easily. They didn't at the end of last season either so it's been tough.
"Winning games is all that gets you through but we've got a good bunch of lads.
"We've always had that at Hull and that's the main thing that will get us back on track. We've got the players to get us through this and I'm confident that will happen soon."
