Hull v Burnley preview: Clarets must win as relegation looms
Saturday 9 May 2015 14:31, UK
Hull and Burnley face off at the KC Stadium on Saturday with the Clarets knowing anything less than a win will see them relegated.
The game is a genuine ‘six-pointer’ with Hull also in desperate need of points to keep themselves above the drop zone ahead of two very tricky games with Tottenham and Manchester United to conclude their season.
Steve Bruce’s side were well beaten by Arsenal on Monday Night Football, bringing them back down to earth after victories over Crystal Palace and Liverpool prior to that game.
Burnley, on the other hand, have lost five of their last six, including 1-0 defeats in the last four, and have failed to score a goal since beating Manchester City 1-0 on March 14.
Even victory for Sean Dyce’s men is unlikely to save them with an inferior goal difference and an eight point gap to Hull in 17th. An immediate return to the Championship now looks a matter of when rather than if.
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Team news
Hull midfielder Mohamed Diame has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Diame, who has been sidelined since September with the exception of two brief substitute appearances last month, will undergo an operation in France on Tuesday.
Tigers boss Steve Bruce must decide whether to hand striker Nikica Jelavic a starting place, while Jake Livermore faces a late test on his injured ankle.
Relegation-threatened Burnley have defender Michael Duff available for Saturday's must-win game after his red card against West Ham last week was rescinded.
Striker Sam Vokes is rated "touch and go" by manager Sean Dyche due to a minor hip and thigh injury.
Defender Kevin Long and midfielder Dean Marney are both long-term absentees with knee injuries.
Opta facts
Five of the last six league meetings between Hull City and Burnley have ended with a 1-0 scoreline.
Burnley have won their last four away trips to play the Tigers at the KC Stadium.
Just seven players have scored a goal for Burnley in the Premier League this season; a lower spread than at any other club.
Hull City have never won a Premier League game in the month of May (W0 D3 L7).
Burnley have not scored a Premier League goal in nine hours and 29 minutes.
Merson's prediction
Burnley just do not score goals, do they? I think that is now seven or eight out of the last nine matches that they have not scored in. And that is why I am going to go for a 2-0 win to Hull, meaning Sean Dyche’s men will be relegated then this weekend.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (7/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Sky Bet make Hull 19/20 favourites to boost their survival chances on Saturday, with Burnley 3/1 for the victory and 12/5 to secure a point. Steve Bruce’s men head into the clash as 7/2 for relegation while the Clarets are 25/1 to avoid the drop and 4/6 to still be bottom come the end of the season. Nikica Jelavic and Dame N’Doye are joint favourites to open the scoring at 9/2 apiece, while Danny Ings is considered the visitors’ biggest threat at 13/2.
Soccer Saturday Price Boost: Aston Villa, Hull & Leicester all to win, was 9/1, NOW 12/1.
