This Saturday sees Neil Lennon's men make a trip to East Yorkshire to face a Hull City side that find themselves within touching distance of the Premier League glory days you can see above. (Yes, that's Fabrice Muamba. I hope he's well.)
Despite the fact that facing a top-six Championship side make strike fear into the hearts of many Wanderers fans, playing the Tigers couldn't come at a better time. They returned from the mid-November international break as league leaders, but it would appear that things have gone slightly south for Steve Bruce's men since then.
At the time of writing (Wednesday 9th December), they're six points off the pace and haven't won in over a month, although that win did come in the form of a 3-0 drubbing over second-placed Middlesborough. In the games since, they've drawn 1-1 against Bristol City, lost 2-0 to Derby at the iPro Stadium and, most recently, lost 2-1 to Leeds at Elland Road. You just know they're going to fancy their chances against us.
Injury wise, defender Alex Bruce will be on the sidelines for our visit as he nurses a back injury, as will former Spurs centre half Michael Dawson who continues to nurse a hamstring strain. David Meyler and Adama Diomande are also expected to miss out, although the particularly dangerous forward Abel Hernandez should to recover from his own hamstring problem in time compete for a place in the starting XI.
As for the Whites, Mark Davies is back from suspension so he should start, although my favourite left back José Manuel Casado will miss the trip to the KC after picking up a late red card against Cardiff last weekend. I'd like to say Prince will be back in contention but if I'm honest, Lennon will probably play Dervite and he'll probably fuck up. Again.
Shola Ameobi was hooked on the hour mark last week as a precaution, so hopefully he's fit to retain his place. With the aforementioned Casado suspended it's also likely Dean Moxey will start his second consecutive game, although this time he'll be at left back. Zach Clough, Max Clayton and Derik Osede all remain sidelined.
If I were Lennon, I'd play the follow starting XI in a 4-3-1-2 formation:
Amos, Vela, Prince, Wheater, Moxey, Danns, Pratley, Feeney, (ideally I'd love to give Medo a run out but it seems as though he's disappeared off the face of the earth, so we'll pretend he doesn't exist for now) M. Davies, Madine, Ameobi.
It'd also be nice to see a bit more youth on the bench, but that's unlikely to happen.
Now you're probably wondering why I haven't mentioned the takeover talks or our utterly dire financial situation at all in this piece, and you have a right to know why. The truth is, ladies and gents, I don't really care anymore. We can sit here and complain, whinge, moan and talk the subject to death, but the fact of the matter is this: there's absolutely nothing we can do about it. The powers that be are clearly doing everything they can to find a buyer, so let's leave them to it and focus on what's happening on the pitch, shall we?
Oh, and before I forget, tweet me your score predictions: @JonnyEckersley. I'm going for a Desmond, 2-2, with Madine & Mark Davies on the scoresheet for the Whites.
Over and out.