Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our live text commentary of Southampton's trip to the KC Stadium to face Hull City in the Premier League. Last night spawned plenty of ghouls - let's hope this one spawns plenty of goals as Hull look to dust off the cobwebs after winning just one of their last eight games.

They've been knocking at the door, but having conceded late on against Arsenal to deny them a victory a fortnight ago, it's safe to say that it has been more trick than treat for the Tigers in recent outings. They did, however, manage to hold Liverpool to a goalless draw last time out, and they will need to take the same mentality from those results into today because, well, Southampton are no less daunting than Arsenal or Liverpool at the moment.

Yep, there is every chance that this one will produce fireworks to match those that illuminated skylines around the world last night because Southampton, at the moment, are the form team around. Ronald Koeman's side have won nine of their last 10 games in all competitions - including an 8-0 demolition of Sunderland two weeks ago - and the future is looking very, very bright under the Dutchman.

Second in the table after nine games played, with the best defensive record in the division, Southampton fans must pinch themselves at times to ensure what they're witnessing each week is reality, and it is - but can it last? This is the burning question hanging over their early-season heroics.

They're by no means the first team to greatly exceed expectations after a barnstorming start, and by the very same token they would certainly not be the first team to slowly but surely fade back to mid-table mediocrity. Anyways, we shall see what today brings against a very stubborn Hull City side, as they've proven in recent weeks.

We will have a closer look at Hull a little later, but for now let's cracking on team news shall we? I'll have this very, very soon indeed. Fortunately for you I've run out of things to continue the Halloween theme, but the boys down at Sports Mole HQ will keep you entertained with their thoughts on this match for the next few minutes. Have a witch. I meant a watch...

HULL CITY XI: Jakupovic; Chester, Davies, McShane, Elmohamady; Huddlestone, Livermore, Brady, Diame, Ben Arfa; Hernandez

SOUTHAMPTON XI: Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand; Wanyama, Schneiderlin, S. Davis, Tadić; Long, Pellè

HULL SUBS: Meyler, Watson, Rosenior, Maguire, Aluko, Quinn, Robertson

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: K. Davis, Yoshida, Gardos, Mané, Cork, Mayuka, Reed

Okay let's start with Hull and I can tell you that Steve Bruce makes one change in total from last week's 0-0 draw at Anfield, with Alex Bruce stepping out of defence for Paul McShane. With Allan McGregor and Steve Harper still injured, third-choice keeper Eldin Jakupovic will start between the sticks once more, as Curtis Davies, McShane, Karim Elmohamady and James Chester line up ahead of him.

It's unchanged elsewhere as Robbie Brady, Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore, Mohamad Diame team up in midfield once more, while Hatem Ben Arfa supports lone striker Abel Hernandez. That's your lot from Hull!

Right, on to Southampton now and it looks like Ronald Koeman has made two changes from Wednesday's 3-2 win at Stoke. Both changes come in defence as Florin Gardos and youngster Matty Targett drop out for Toby Alderweireld and Ryan Bertrand respectively.

Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin team up in the middle of midfield, along with an advanced Steven Davis, while Dusan Tadic (class!) and Shane Long support Graziano Pelle. And that's your lot from Southampton, my friends.

Incidentally, I can tell you that Newcastle are beating Liverpool 1-0 at St James's Park and there's about two minutes left there. What that means is the Magpies would then leapfrog Hull in the standings and move into the top half of the table. Remarkable, considering how Newcastle's season looked just two weeks ago. I'm digressing. Let's get back on point and how about a few stats to whet the appetite?

This is quite ominous from a Hull perspective, but Southampton have won each of the last four meetings between these sides. If that wasn't bad enough then chew on this: Hull have only won one of their last seven home clashes with their South Coast counterparts. It doesn't inspire confidence, does it? But let's look at who Hull can call on to possibly alter those stats today.

DANGER MAN! Steve Bruce has one or two players in his side capable of scoring goals, and record signing Abel Hernandez looks as if he is slowly but surely getting to grips with the Premier League. He has three goals in his first six games in England - including one against Arsenal two weeks ago - and overall the 24-year-old is looking ever more menacing as the weeks tick on.

Mohamed Diame is always a nuisance aswell, isn't he? The big man has four goals in his last six for the Tigers, and Southampton will need to keep an eye on him today. It's hard to miss him to be fair.

DANGER MAN! Let's look at Southampton's danger man then, and there's an APB out on this bloke as we speak for terrorising defenders recently. Of course, we're talking about Graziano Pelle who, with nine goals in his last 10 games, is perhaps the best centre-forward in England right now. He was signed for just £8m from Feyenoord so is there anybody in the Premier League - or indeed Europe - proving better value for money than the Italian at the moment?

He grabbed another two in Southampton's midweek win over Stoke - a right-footed pearler from outside the box, while his second was about as scrappy as they come. It is this smorgasbord of goals which makes such a menace because, really, he's got so many strings in his bow. I'm glad I'm not a Hull defender this afternoon. Well, I might put up with Pelle for the wages actually.

Another one looking like an excellent signing by Ronald Koeman is Dusan Tadic, who oozes class. I had the privilege of watching Southampton on Wednesday, and it was a privilege because they were phenomenal at times against Stoke. First half they were excellent and strung together some moves that would make Barcelona sit up and take note. They then had the resolve to grind out the win even after surrendering a two-goal lead. Tadic, incidentally, was phenomenal throughout so Hull will need to watch him today.

Bruce needs to start masterminding victories. He really does. One win in eight just isn't good enough. Sure, they held Arsenal and Liverpool to hard-fought draws, but they're only three points above the relegation zone and have only won twice all season. They could really do with three points here today. I mean, they'll definitely avoid relegation but you don't want to find yourself in that position, do you?

PREDICTION! Right, kickoff isn't far away now so let's get down to the nitty and gritty of pre-match predictions, shall we? I think it'll be tight, but I reckon Southampton have far too much momentum to be slowed down by a Hull side with only two wins all season. Southampton will edge it, say, 2-1. Paul McShane to score all three goals. If not him then Pelle and Long on target for the Saints.

Right, the players are entering the field so it looks like we should be getting underway fairly shortly. I fancy a decent game here.

KICKOFF! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're underway at the KC Stadium. Hull kick us off. Let's go!

What an unbelievable start for Southampton, who move ahead after just two minutes through Victor Wanyama. Eldin Jakupovic hashed his clearance straight to the Kenyan, who took aim from all of about 40 yards and found the back of the net in style. It's a poor back pass from James Chester to Jakupovic, but it's a poor clearance from the keeper. He has to be accountable.

Hull must be shell-shocked, but they aren't showing it and have continued in the same vein, knocking the ball around comfortably it seems. But what a dreadful start. My word.

Good response from Hull now as Diame does well to work himself into a dangerous area before flashing the ball across goal, but it's cleared by Alderweireld. Hull have no shortage of support here anyway.

They're still playing quite well Hull but yet to really fashion a clear chance to get back on level terms. Still, the upside of conceding so early is that there's plenty of time to rectify it.

More good play from Hull as Robbie Brady and Diame exchange neat one-twos but Clyne gets across to avert the danger.

Hull still by far the better team believe it or not. It's been a really good response by the hosts as Robbie Brady looks to cut back for Hernandez in the middle but Forster came out to collect. Good goalkeeping.

Decent little spell by Southampton now, comfortably knocking it around but Paul McShane does excellently to thwart Graziano Pelle just then. He's got a big job today McShane, but he's done well so far.

Crucial clearance by Alderweireld just then to cut out Elmohamady's teasing cross. They'll feel very unlucky to be behind because they're miles the better team.

CHANCE! Despite all their possession and general dominance, Hull nearly fall two behind as Shane Long chases a bouncing ball and try to head it over Jakupovic after the keeper hesitates. He looks very, very, very shakey after that fatal early error.

Southampton enjoying much more of the ball now as the visitors look to have rode that early storm of pressure. Incidentally, the Saints have won every match in which they have taken the lead this season so quite ominous for Hull.

Ryan Bertrand is furious and the Chelsea loanee wants a yellow card for Abel Hernandez after being clattered. He's denied his wish, however. Probably the right decision.

The tempo has slowed down somewhat at the KC Stadium and Hull are struggling to find that momentum that saw them respond so well to that setback early on. Still, 15 minutes left in this half so plenty of time.

Southampton will want to get Dusan Tadic into the game a little more shortly. He's been rather anonymous so far and, for a player with so much talent, he can help Southampton boost their lead.

SAVE! And they very nearly double that lead as Shane Long latches on to Steven Davis's through ball but Jakupovic did well to save his shot. The keeper needed that after a very dodgy start.

I can see Hull scoring at some point, but I can also see Southampton getting another. They have it all to do in the second half.

We're about four minutes from half time now and it looks to be petering out, sadly. Hull have had all the possession, but Southampton have had by far the best chances - and they've got the only goal, of course.

Incidentally, I should point out that Southampton fans have been singing "when the Saints go marching in" non-stop for about 15 minutes. Great show of support from them.

So, Southampton take a slender, yet deserved one-goal lead into the break after Wanyama pounced on Jakupovic's error after just two minutes. It wasn't quite Vito Mannone against Alexis Sanchez type of error, but it was quite bad. His hashed clearance from the left side of the box landed straight at the Wanyama, who took aim and found the net from 40 yards. Quality finish but it came about in farcical circumstances.

Jakupovic, to his credit, did pull off a decent save later in the half to maintain the one-goal deficit, but there's no prizes for guessing what he thought about when he made his way off the field at the break. Southampton have been fine since scoring; repelled everything thrown at them in defence, and fashioned a few decent chances up the other end. Hull have been poor in the final third and need a bit of inspiration from somewhere.

Right, we're minutes away from the second half so stick the kettle on and meet me back here in a few minutes. Milk, no sugar. Thanks.

RESTART! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're back underway. Southampton kick us off once more and Hull have 45 minutes in which to turn this around. Can they do it? Not if the first half was anything to go by, but we shall see.

PENALTY APPEAL: Hull want a penalty after Victor Wanyama looked to have bundled Diame over inside the box. It did look the correct decision by Martin Atkinson to wave away the appeals, however.

Early impressions of this half are that Hull haven't really looked any more dangerous going forward than they did throughout the first half. Still a lot of time left of course, but it's not looking too good at the moment.

Some good news for the hosts is that Tadic and Pelle have been largely anonymous thus far. They're so dangerous, but they've been on the peripheries so far in this one. They have to keep them quiet AND get their own danger men into the game.

SAVE! Jakupovic continues to make amends for his earlier error, as Davis deflects Graziano's overhead goalward but the keeper does well to get it away. Impressive.

Looks like Ronald Koeman is getting ready to make a couple of changes here. I'll be very surprised if Hull don't follow suit because they need to freshen things up in the final third.

SUBSTITUTION: Yep and it's Sadio Mane, match-winner against Stoke last week, who replaces Shane Long. The Irishman didn't bring his shooting boots this afternoon.

SUBSTITUTION: Steve Bruce follows suit as expected as Sone Aluko replaces Ahmed Elmohamady. Will that bring about a change for the hosts? We should hope so.

Last week's stalemate with Liverpool was the first game in which Hull have failed to score this season. Can they get back to scoring ways today? They have to. Less than half-an-hour left and it's worrying how little they have troubled Fraser Forster.

Nasty challenge from Diame now, who trodded on Tadic's achilles and the Serbian is receiving treatment now. It's hard to say whether it was intentional, but he has cut a frustrated figure recently has Diame.

CHANCE! Oh my word. Southampton could, and certainly should, be two goals up after substitute Sadio Mane did really well to get in front of his marker to meet Tadic's superb cross, but somehow he managed to hit it over the bar from about four yards. Shocker.

Hull go up the other end and threaten, as Jose Fonte throws himself in the way of Diame's shot from outside the box. Good defending from the centre-half.

Hull want another penalty but they'll settle for a corner after Brady's cross looked to have been deflected wide off Brady's hand. The corner comes to nothing, however. They haven't made the most of set pieces at all.

Diame has been excellent for Hull. He's been the only bright spark in an otherwise lifeless Hull performance and he's just won another decent free kick on the edge of the box.

Aaaaaaaaaaaand it comes to nothing. It's been the story of Hull's afternoon.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Two more subs to tell you about now as Tadic makes way for Jack Cork, while Hull also make a change and replace Robbie Brady with Stephen Quinn.

Abel Hernandez has a very rare shot for Hull, and it's an overhead kick that probably left the stadium. A lot of Hull fans will be jealous of that football for escaping this. It's been so poor.

CHANCE! It's a good, good chance for Hull as Stephen Quinn heads over from a Tom Huddlestone cross. Disappointing chance that just about sums up the hosts today.

CHANCE! You expect more from Pelle, but he's waited 90 minutes to have a shot and he's blown it. Very good near-post run, but skewed Mane's cross into the side-netting from close range.

We've got a corner now as Hull look to nick a point but, as per usual, the corner is met by a Southampton head. They've been excellent defensively.

Hull are being urged on by their fans now but there's nowhere to go. It's a red and white wall back there and they can't get past it.

That's all she wrote, folks. The Southampton dream continues, while Hull will be bitterly disappointed with their performance and result. Shocking.

Anyways, thank you for joining our live commentary and be sure to stick around for analysis and player ratings coming very soon. Enjoy your weekend :)