Hello and welcome to live coverage of Hull City vs Crystal Palace.

Clucas is wincing on the left wing, with an injury of his own.

McArthur catches Snodgrass with an elbow as they both go for a high ball. The game stops as he gets treatment.

Nothing from the corner.

Excellent from Zaha. He cut inside from the right, past one defender. Then he jinks past two, away from goal and into the box, and his shot is palmed behind by Marshall.

Puncheon lashes a volley wide from distance.

Robertson receives the ball in the box. He cuts onto his right foot, and sends a week shot at goal. It's headed out to Livermore, who skies his effort.

The match gets underway in a sparsely populated KC Stadium.

Five minutes until kick off. I'll predict a 2-0 win to a resurgent Palace. Let me know your thoughts.

I apologise for the brief interlude of talking tactics. As recompense, let me wish you a merry Christmas. You can also @ me on Twitter if you'd like to give me your valuable opinions, at @lxndrnthrtn.

With just 15 minutes to go, here is a stat to absolutely blow your minds. It seems we're going to be witnessing the kind of vertical football which is morally wrong.

Pardew has been unable to call on both Tomkins and Sako, both of whom are injured.

Incredibanter on the names.

Fellow relegation-botherers Hull City have a familiar look to them, too. The danger comes from... It's hard to say. But they have perhaps the next James Bond, Tom Hiddlestone, and Jake Livermore as they attempt to dominate the midfield.

Alan Pardew wants to keep his winning streak of one game going. To do that, he has a familiar Palace line-up. The danger comes from Wilfried Zaha, Jason Puncheon and Christian Benteke.

Hull City: Marshall, Maguire, Dawson, Elmohamady, Robertson, Davies, Huddlestone, Snodgrass, Clucas, Livermore, Diomande. Subs: Jakupovic, Meyler, Maloney, Weir, Henriksen, Mason, Bowen. /// Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward, Ledley, McArthur, Puncheon, Townsend, Zaha, Benteke. Subs: Speroni, Fryers, Flamini, Phillips, Lee, Cabaye, Campbell.