saintsfc.co.uk takes a look at some of the key stats and history behind Hull City and Southampton ahead of their meeting on Saturday in the Barclays Premier League.
• Saints have conceded just five goals in the Premier League so far this season, meaning they have the best defensive record in the league.
• Graziano Pellè needs one more goal to take his tally of goals for the season to ten, following his brace against Stoke City on Wednesday.
• Hull City have drawn five of their nine Premier League games so far this season – they only drew seven in the whole of 2013/14.
• Saints have won six of their opening nine games for the first time in their history in a top-flight season.
• No team in the Premier League has dropped more points than Hull City from leading positions this season (eight).
• Saints have won every game in which they have opened the scoring so far this season.
• The Tigers have scored exactly two goals in each of their last three home matches at the KC Stadium.
• Hull City have held Arsenal (2-2) and Liverpool (0-0) to draws in their previous two fixtures.
• Saints have made 4,568 passes in their opening nine Premier League games, while Hull City have made 3,583.
• Saints have had 127 shots at goal, compared to Hull City’s 85 in their opening nine games.
• At the other end, Saints have had 78 shots against so far this season, while Hull city have had 164.
Hull City wins: 14
Draws: 20
Saints wins: 22
• The first meeting between the two sides was in the FA Cup in 1915. The game finished 2-2, before Hull City won the replay 4-0.
• The Tigers also won an FA Cup tie between the two sides in 1966, winning 1-0 at home.
• Between 1922 and 1953, the two sides met only in Division Two, meeting 30 times, with Saints winning on ten occasions.
• Southampton have won both Premier League games between the two sides, winning 4-1 and 1-0 last season.
• Hull City have won just once in the last 16 meetings between the two sides – a 5-0 success in the Championship in March 2008.
• Away from home to Hull City, Southampton have lost just once in the last seven games.
• The reverse fixture at St Mary’s will take place on Saturday 11th April, kick-off 3pm.
February 2014: Hull City 0-1 Southampton (Premier League)
November 2013: Southampton 4-1 Hull City (Premier League)
March 2012: Hull City 0-2 Southampton (Championship)
November 2011: Southampton 2-1 Hull City (Championship)
March 2008: Hull City 5-0 Southampton (Championship)
43 year-old Martin Atkinson will take charge of Saturday’s game at the KC Stadium. Atkinson became a Premier League referee in 2005, following two years officiating in the Football League.
Atkinson is yet to officiate a Saints game this season, but has taken charge of nine games so far, including one Champions League fixture. He has handed out 41 yellow cards so far, but no reds.
Last season, Atkinson was also in charge of Saints’ 1-0 win against the Tigers at the KC Stadium, where he handed out three yellow cards. He also took charge of Saints’ home games against Chelsea and Crystal Palace last season.
Atkinson was awarded the 2013 FA Cup final, where Manchester City beat Stoke City and the 2014 Capital One Cup final, where Manchester City beat Sunderland.
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