The EPL relegation dogfight

A LITTLE under six years ago, Phil Brown burst into song to celebrate Hull City’s relegation escape at the expense of Newcastle United.

The Tigers stayed up despite a home defeat by Manchester United on the final day of the 2008-09 season and Brown, then the manager, took to the pitch to treat supporters with his version of the Beach Boys’ Sloop John B.

Now, under Steve Bruce, Hull’s fate will again be decided when the Red Devils visit, but this time they need a win – and must hope that Newcastle fail to beat West Ham. Will the final whistle be music to Bruce’s ears, or will John Carver’s Magpies finally be on song?

Third-bottom Hull are two points behind Newcastle but the Tigers have a superior goal difference. That means no less than a win today will suffice. With fourth place all but certain, Louis van Gaal’s visitors have little to play for but Bruce knows just how tough beating United can be.

In 21 attempts during 17 seasons as a manager, the former Red Devils captain has never won a match against the club he served as a player for nine seasons.

If Hull win, Newcastle will realistically also need three points – otherwise they will go down just like in 2009. They face a West Ham side managed by former Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce, who is a close friend of Bruce’s.

Bruce might not thank his pal, though, if West Ham perform like they are already on their summer break, particularly after reports that some Hammers players were allowed to miss training for most of the week. Good form has evaded both Hull and Newcastle at exactly the wrong time of the season but, of the two managers, Bruce has more cause for optimism.

Hull have lost their last three – including a damaging defeat against relegated Burnley – but that sequence came after wins over Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

Newcastle have lost nine of their last 10 matches, the other being a draw. They have won just two fixtures since Carver took over as manager and one of them was the 3-0 win over Hull on January 31 that could prove to be the difference between survival and relegation. – Goal.com

Fixtures

Arsenal v West Brom; Aston Villa v Burnley; Chelsea v Sunderland; Crystal Palace v Swansea City; Everton v Totenham; Hull City v Manchester United; Leicester City v Queens Park Rangers; Man City v Southampton; Newcastle United v West Ham; Stoke City v Liverpool. (All matches begin at 4pm)