The injury-hit Hammers will look to return to winning ways when they go on the long trip to Hull City on Saturday

After tough trips to Southampton and Brighton anyone who thinks things are going to get easier for West Ham is going to have to think again.

Hull City are riding high in the Championship and despite Tuesday night’s defeat at Barnsley they still sit in the play-off places as Nigel Pearson attempts to haul the club back into the promised land.

The Tigers started their home campaign in shaky fashion losing by a single goal to both Blackpool and Crystal Palace, but both those reverses came way back in August and since then they have added four victories to their record at the KC Stadium.

Reading, Portsmouth, Cardiff City and Watford have all returned from Hull pointless, while it seems that games at the KC are tight ones with only eight goals scored in six games there so far.

Pearson lost Jimmy Bullard during the summer, but managed to bring in experienced Nottingham Forest pair Paul McKenna and Dele Adebola as well as Jack Hobbs from Leicester.

It is strike pair Matt Fryatt and Aaron McLean who have been leading the front line and though Hull are not prolific scorers, Fryatt still has four and McLean three to their names so far.

Slovenian midfielder Robert Koren has also managed three goals so far and his contribution will make him the one to watch on Saturday.

Last time West Ham travelled to Hull it proved an exciting clash and something of a roller-coaster for the Hammers.

Guillermo Franco and Jack Collison had West Ham 2-0 up inside 20 minutes, but by the time Manuel Da Costa scored, it was to level the match at 3-3 after an alarming capitulation in the middle of the Premier League encounter.

History tells us that West Ham struggle against the Tigers. In fact they haven’t won on Hull City soil since way back in 1954 – a record that Sam Allardyce will be keen to eradicate.

With Pearson being linked with old club Leicester City this week, perhaps there will be some unrest in the Hull ranks this week, but they have lost only one in 10 games and this will not be easy.

Possible team: Basso, Rosenior, Hobbs, Chester, Dudgeon, Koren, Evans, McKenna, McLean, Fryatt, Brady.

Prediction: Hull City 1 West Ham 1