STATTO: Stoke City vs Hull City

Facts and stats ahead of the EFL Cup clash

WELCOME // Stoke City host Hull City in the first ever League Cup tie between the two clubs.

FOUR PLAY // The sides have met four times in the FA Cup, however, with Stoke winning three of those matches. The most recent was a 4-1 home triumph at the Fifth Round stage in 1972, the year after a 3-2 away win in the Quarter Finals.

RUN // The Potters have lost just one of the last seven League Cup matches – the First Leg of last season’s Semi Final defeat to Liverpool.

PROGRESS // City have won the last eight Third Round matches with the last loss coming back in 1997. On that occasion Chic Bates’ side exited to Premier League Leeds United after a 3-1 extra time defeat. Since then Barnsley, Reading, Blackpool, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Tranmere Rovers, Sunderland and Fulham again have all been beaten.

TAMED // The Tigers have progressed beyond the Third Round stage only twice since 1978. They reached the Fifth Round stage last season, whilst they beat Exeter City away in the Second Round to earn this tie at the bet365 Stadium.

SPARK // Mark Hughes is undefeated in seven games as a manager against the Hull. He won one and drew two at Manchester City, before winning two home matches and drawing another two away whilst with the Potters.

FORTUNES // After three successive victories to begin the season, Hull have lost two and drawn one of their last three fixtures. Both defeats came at home, though to Manchester United and Arsenal.

ON THE DAY // City beat Fulham 2-0 at the same stage of the competition on the same day six years ago. Goals in each half from Danny Higginbotham and Kenwyne Jones earned the victory against Mark Hughes’ Cottagers.