Relegation dogfight: Newcastle, Hull City in survival shootout

Newcastle United's French midfielder Moussa Sissoko (left) and Jack Colback (right) celebrate with striker Papiss Cisse (centre) at a past match. Newcastle’s fans have stepped up their protests against unpopular owner Mike Ashley in recent weeks and manager John Carver has admitted that he cannot bring himself to contemplate the thought of relegation. PHOTO | IAN MACNICOL | AFP

What you need to know:

  • The scenario echoes that of the final day of the 2008-09 season, when Hull avoided the drop despite losing 1-0 at home to Manchester United and Newcastle were relegated after going down 1-0 at Aston Villa.
  • A run of nine defeats and one draw in 10 games has seen Newcastle slide from 11th place to the threshold of the relegation zone ahead of Sunday’s pivotal encounter with mid-table West Ham.
  • Newcastle’s fans have stepped up their protests against unpopular owner Mike Ashley in recent weeks and manager John Carver has admitted that he cannot bring himself to contemplate the thought of relegation.

Northeast rivals Hull City and Newcastle United face a shootout for Premier League survival this weekend as the 2014-15 campaign reaches its conclusion.

Hull must win at home to Manchester United tomorrow to stand any chance of staying up, but if they succeed, Newcastle will be relegated unless they prevail at home to West Ham United.

Newcastle will begin the day two points above the relegation zone, but Hull’s superior goal difference (-18 to -25) means that if the two teams finish level on points, it is Steve Bruce’s men who will stay up. The scenario echoes that of the final day of the 2008-09 season, when Hull avoided the drop despite losing 1-0 at home to Manchester United and Newcastle were relegated after going down 1-0 at Aston Villa.

Bruce has never overcome his former club Manchester United in his 17-year managerial career, but he believes the support of the KC Stadium could tip the match in the home side’s favour.
“It’s a big positive that this game is at home,” said the former United captain, whose side have lost their last three matches.

“We’ve got one of the giants of English football coming to us and we hope that with the fans right behind us and the players ready for the challenge ahead, we can upset the applecart. “We have to believe that there is one final twist in this and it needs to go our way.”

A run of nine defeats and one draw in 10 games has seen Newcastle slide from 11th place to the threshold of the relegation zone ahead of Sunday’s pivotal encounter with mid-table West Ham.

Newcastle’s fans have stepped up their protests against unpopular owner Mike Ashley in recent weeks and manager John Carver has admitted that he cannot bring himself to contemplate the thought of relegation.

“It doesn’t even bear thinking about, to be quite honest. It’s not something that’s in my mind,” he said. “I’ve seen what’s happened in the past. It wasn’t nice. If it did happen, it would be unbearable.”