Brown: staring at the drop, says Mullery
If Hull don't buck up their ideas then they're going to be the third club to go down.
Alan Mullery
Quotes of the week
Alan Mullery believes Hull are heading for the drop on the back of their Goodison Park hammering.
Phil Brown's side capitulated to their third straight Premier League defeat to remain in the bottom three on a big weekend for sides battling against the drop.
Hull, West Ham and Burnley were all beaten while Bolton Wanderers gave their survival chances a huge lift with victory at Upton Park.
It leaves crisis club Portsmouth, newly-promoted Burnley and the Tigers occupying the bottom three and on Sunday's evidence, Mullery says Brown and his side are doomed for the drop.
"I think definitely Portsmouth and I would say Burnley (that are going down)," he told Sky Sports News.
"I've been looking at the results for Hull and I would love to see them stay up because a very dear friend of mine is the assistant manager there, Brian Horton, but if they don't buck up their ideas then they're going to be the third club to go down.
"Phil Brown would have had an absolute nightmare when he got home, thinking about it. I think out of the last 33 games they have won five and that is absolutely why they really are in trouble.
"To get stuffed again by five you're saying 'is it my defenders? Is it my midfielders? Are my forwards scoring enough goals?'; you go right through the team.
"They've had this run for some time now; they won a couple of games but very, very few and if you've only won five in the last 33 you really are in trouble - as we can see from their position in the league.
"Phil Brown has got to show that confidence to everybody, that confidence that they're going to do it - but deep down he knows in his mind, right now they're not good enough."
Mullery believes Bolton are at last showing signs of adapting to Owen Coyle's philosophy, while Wolves' defensive resilience should see them safe.
He admitted that both Sunderland and Wigan cannot be ruled out, but insists it is the bottom three as of Monday morning that will all be making an appearance in the Championship next season.
Here's what Mullery had to say about the other favourites for relegation come the end of the season...
BURNLEY
"Unfortunately spirit doesn't end up winning you games - that's the big problem. I've seen Burnley two or three times this season; I saw them play Fulham at Fulham and they played very, very well for 10 minutes. But it was the same on Saturday (at Arsenal) as it was against Fulham and Tottenham; until they conceded a goal they played very well. As soon as they concede a goal their heads just went down. And at home, well they lost their last home game against Portsmouth, which was a disaster. They've got to win their home games - and all their home games. They've got 11 games to go and five at home and if they don't win those, I think they'll go down into the Championship."
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
"If you stop other teams scoring goals it will help - and I thought they were unlucky at the weekend against Manchester United. But when you look at it, Wolves had an opportunity to put the ball in the back of the net but failed to do so - and I think that's the big problem with Mick McCarthy's side. Defensively they're doing ok, but again you need someone at the other end scoring goals and scoring goals regularly. Sam Vokes was no more than eight yards out, he's a player for Wales, a decent player but he's falling away from the ball - and knocks the ball five yards over the bar. Now, that sort of chance keeps you up in the Premier League, but if you miss chances like that, that is what gets you relegated."
BOLTON WANDERERS
"I would think Owen Coyle would've said that's the best they've played; they thoroughly deserved the win against West Ham. They played some smashing football and what a great goal from Kevin Davies; a great header from a big, powerful man. Owen will be delighted with the way they have played and they deserved to win. They are playing a lot more football now; before I would've called them 'long ball' and they battle and fight; well, they still battle and fight but there's a lot more ability now. They are playing very well."
WIGAN ATHLETIC
"Roberto Martinez doesn't have the experience but he's a very good manager; I thought he was outstanding at Swansea. He's a smashing lad and he loves to play good football, but I'm afraid that's not working for Wigan at the moment. They got beat in their last home game against Tottenham and they play Liverpool on Monday night? Do you want to be playing a side that's looking to be in fourth position when you're having a terrible run? No you don't. If they don't get a result they really are in trouble. He was a footballer when he was a player and he's been a manager who loves to play good football played, but if you're playing on a pitch like they've got - which is awful - you've got a major problem."
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