Brad Rial picks out five things Hull City must do if they are to pick up three points against West Brom on Saturday.
Stop Berahino
Saido Berahino is a confidence player and his goals tend to come in spurts. Back in September and October, he netted six times in five games before failing to score in his next 11. And in his last two games, he has scored five times.
Granted, four of those came against Gateshead but it is nonetheless an impressive return. Interestingly, Berahino chose not to celebrate any of his goals against the non-league side, raising further doubt over his future, with some suggesting that he isn't happy at the club.
He is a nippy forward who likes to get in behind defences, something City know all too well. It was Berahino's late strike that separated the two sides back in September in the Capital One Cup and it was a goal typical of the player he is.
With just two minutes remaining of the third-round tie, he ghosted past the Tigers backline before finishing smartly past Steve Harper. City must be alert to such runs on Saturday.
Rekindle Tom Huddlestone's form
Pound for pound, there is arguably not a more talented member of the City squad than Tom Huddlestone. Every Tigers fan knows just how much quality the midfielder possesses but his performances so far this season have left them wanting more.
The game at Arsenal on Sunday provided the latest case in point. Against the Gunners, Huddlestone was far from awful but the game largely passed him by.
He has the ability to control games single-handedly and fans feel it is about time he started doing so. The Hawthorns could be the place for him to get his mojo back but it remains to be seen if he will start.
Stephen Quinn, David Meyler and Jake Livermore have all stepped up to the plate in Huddlestone's absence and right now appear more deserving of starting berths.
Should Huddlestone get the nod, he has to seize his chance and remind his manager, teammates and supporters alike of what an excellent player he is.
Feed Jelavic and Hernandez
The onus will again fall on Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez to come up with the goods against West Brom, as they did so brilliantly against Everton.
The pair have started just six games together this season but in five of them, City have scored two goals. It is no coincidence that there is an upturn in the side's goalscoring fortunes when Jelavic and Hernandez start together.
City were exciting to watch on New Year's Day and Jelavic and Hernandez were absolutely key. On Saturday, they must pick up from where they left off.
The home crowd will be expecting their side to force the initiative but City will pose an attacking threat of their own. On New Year's Day, Jelavic and Hernandez played on Everton's vulnerability at the back and they will look to do the same against the Baggies.
West Brom have kept just two clean sheets at home in the league this campaign and City's reunited strike duo will fancy its chances of bagging against a potentially fragile back four.
Solve left-back problem
Prior to Sunday's game at Arsenal, City were rocked by the news that Andy Robertson and Liam Rosenior would be out for a month and three months respectively.
The pair's absence will hand Steve Bruce a selection headache ahead of the trip to West Brom and the left-back spot is now very much up for grabs.
Robbie Brady and Maynor Figueroa, who both featured in the defeat at the Emirates, will come into the reckoning and Bruce has a decision to make.
The pair performed to varying degrees of success against the Gunners. Brady was disappointing, while Figueroa put in a commendable shift.
Bruce's decision may well depend on what formation he opts for. If he sticks with a four-man defence, Figueroa would be the natural choice at full-back. However, if he reverts to the 3-5-2, Brady would be much more suited to the wing-back role than the Honduran.
Neither is likely to offer the stability of Rosenior, nor the attacking threat of Robertson, but they have their own strengths. Whoever gets the nod on Saturday will be looking to make the spot his own, for the time being at least.
Deal with the 'Pulis effect'
Tony Pulis will take charge of his first Premier League game as West Brom boss against City and the 56-year-old will no doubt see it as an opportunity to get a first three points on the board.
After dismantling Gateshead in his first game, the Baggies will head into this one full of confidence.
Pulis's impact at Crystal Palace last season was clear for all to see. He had an almost immediate impact at Selhurst Park and ended up guiding the club to an impressive 11th-place finish.
It is worth pointing out, though, that he lost his first league game in charge against Norwich. City will be hoping for a similar fate to befall him on Saturday.
