Hull V Chelsea at The KC Stadium - Match Preview

Hull V Chelsea - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.Dawson: No Hull confidence issuesHull defender Michael Dawson will lead his side into Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Chelsea insisting confidence levels have not been hit by a fortnight of frustration which has plunged them deeper into the relegation dogfight.Missed opportunities against Sunderland and Leicester have left the Tigers hovering three points above the drop zone while their hopes have also been hit by the news that striker Nikica Jelavic faces six weeks on the sidelines after knee surgery.On the face of it a clash with Jose Mourinho's champions elect is the last thing the struggling hosts might wish for but former Tottenham star Dawson is adamant his team can once again rise to the occasion this weekend.Dawson said: "We have got a spirit and a fight about us and we have certainly shown that in recent weeks

It's all about fine margins and at the end of the day we picked up points that might be valuable at the end of the season."It is a massive challenge playing against all the top teams but we have been away to Anfield and Manchester City and Arsenal and picked points up and we could quite easily have picked up all three against City."The Tigers' survival hopes took another hit last week when fellow strugglers Burnley upset Manuel Pellegrini's men at Turf Moor but Dawson says that upset can provide inspiration for his own side on Sunday."You do look at other results, there's no hiding that, and seeing that kind of result definitely gives us that belief," added Dawson

"On paper it wasn't one you would look at but credit to Burnley who showed what the Premier League is about."Jelavic's untimely absence will mean another chance for either record signing Abel Hernandez or Sone Aluko in attack, but the game is likely to come too early for long-term injured trio Mohamed Diame, Robbie Brady and Liam Rosenior.However despite Jelavic's grim immediate prognosis, boss Steve Bruce is determined not to completely write the Croatian striker off and believes he could yet return to play a part in the potentially crucial end-of-season run-in.Bruce said: "Being realistic we think it's going to be at least six weeks

It could force him out for the rest of the season, but knowing Jela the way I do I am sure he is going to give it a good shot."Jose Mourinho believes Chelsea will be pushed all the way even if they complete a wire-to-wire Premier League title triumph.The Blues, who have led from the first round of matches, entered the weekend's fixtures with a six-point lead and a game in hand."I would enjoy much more having 20 points more," said Mourinho, downplaying the suggestion he thrives on the pressure."We have been chased since day one, since August

The others have good teams, have ambitions

They don't let us enjoy an easy ride."Mourinho rued, once again, the European exit which denied Chelsea a Champions League quarter-final with Barcelona.Paris St Germain, Chelsea's conquerors in the last 16, drew the Catalans in Friday's draw.Had the Blues progressed, their schedule would have been challenging, with Premier League matches with Manchester United and Arsenal either side of the Champions League last eight, which they will now watch from afar.There is a benefit, though, as Chelsea have a solitary focus.Mourinho said: "It's the second time I don't reach a quarter-final in all my career

I would prefer to be there."I would like to be in that position

I would like to be playing Barcelona, United, Barcelona, Arsenal."The fact we went out gives us a frustrating situation

That we don't hide."But it gives us a situation where we can work properly, we can rest properly and - if things go in the direction I expect and the players expect - we can finish the season in a very strong way."

Source : PA

Source: PA