Graeson looks ahead to Tuesday night's fixture against Hull City (ko 7:45pm) which will be the last ever floodlight Football League match at Layer Road.

Just a short preview for the visit of Hull City to Layer Road tonight for their re-arranged Championship fixture. The original game was postponed for a waterlogged pitch after which there were some unsavoury comments made by the Hull Chairman to the effect that it would have been three easy points for his side. I do hope that this is put up inside the U's dressing room for extra motivation!

It’s only been a two months since that postponement (and one since a 1-1 draw at The KC Stadium) but Phil Brown's side now find themselves fifth in the Division. Though this is their game in hand on some of the sides above them, victory over the U's would not move them up a place as West Brom (who will have two games in hand over Hull after tonight) have a far superior goal difference.

Since our last meeting, Hull have won four games whilst losing two. They beat West Brom at The Hawthorns by the odd goal in three before they lost to the same score line at Bristol City. In the subsequent four matches they have conceded just one goal - and that to Cardiff City last week which gave the Welshman the three points.

Admittedly, those other three games were all at home though. Burnley were beaten 2-0 with former U's man Richard Garcia getting the second goal. However, all the real action came in the second half as both sides ended the game with just nine men! The problems started with twenty minutes to go as Caleb Folan was shown a straight red card for an incident with Burnley defender Caldwell who was cautioned as a result. That caution turned red a couple of minutes later for an off-the ball incident. Five minutes later, both sides went down to nine men as Jay-Jay Okacha received a red card for another off-the-ball incident, and then Gudjonsson picked up a second yellow card for arguing that the Tykes should be the recipients of a penalty as the offence occurred within the penalty area.

The Humberside derby against Scunthorpe was watched by over twenty thousand at the KC Stadium with former Bolton striker Henrik Pedersen and defender Michael Turner grabbing the goals in the first half.

On Saturday, Hull ripped in to free-falling Southampton at The CK Stadium with a five goal thumping of Nigel Pearson's out-of-form Saints. There was only one goal in it at halftime - Manchester United loanee Frazer Campbell getting the goal in the 7th minute - but after the break Pedersen and Turner grabbed a goal each again, Dean Marney blasted a strike home from outside the area and Bryan Hughes finished it off in the final minute.

Sadly, it appears that there won't be too many Layer Road reunions tonight as two former U's players are out injured. Wayne Brown limped off at Cardiff City last week which Craig Fagan, on loan from Derby County, is also ruled out through injury. However, Richard Garcia was part of the Tigers side against Southampton on Saturday and will hope to play some part in the game though Phil Brown does have Folan and Nigerian World Cup star Jay-Jay Okacha back from suspension.
I do hope that the U's fans give Garcia a good reception tonight. He was a crucial part of the U's successes over the last two seasons - who can forget his goals against Sunderland and at Crystal Palace - and only moved to Hull to secure his families future.

Graeson's Team:
There were encouraging signs in Saturday's game against Cardiff City that Williams should be able to work on over the coming weeks. Matt Heath looked very solid at the back, Dean Hammond and Johnnie Jackson for me won the midfield battle, while youngster Medy Elito and Anthony Wordsworth also did well.

Williams will have to decide whether to Elito can handle playing two games in a week at this level before he names his side. Though I'm not sure that playing the youngster is necessarily the right thing to do, I also believe that if he does well, he should retain his place in the same side - a philosophy that goes throughout any of my teams. My guess is that he will be picked.

That just leaves the question of who to play up front. Clive Platt had another good game on Saturday and I would start with him again tonight. However, I would like to see Williams bring Vernon on a little earlier than he has been doing in recent games. The former Blackpool man has looked lively when he's come on - but giving him four minutes at the end of a game just does nobody any favours.

So my side will be Gerken in goal. A back four of Ifil, Virgo, Heath and John White at left back. The midfield will see Duguid, Hammond, Jackson and Elito hopefully supplying Kevin Lisbie and Clive Platt with the ammunition to fire United to victory.

Graeson's Prediction
Saturday was encouraging from a U's point of view, and I hope that the U's are gradually finding the right blend in midfield in Jackson and Hammond. I'm hopeful that their partnership will be further strengthened tonight as Hammond registers his first goal in a 2-1 win over The Tigers.

With tonight bring an end to floodlit League football at Layer Road, I can see Platt and Hammond on target for the U's in a 2-1 win - and who would bet against Richard Garcia getting the Hull goal?

Photo: Action Images

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