Saturday 16 May 2015 14:36, UK
Hull City desperately need to beat Tottenham Hotspur to keep their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League alive.
While the Tigers cannot mathematically be relegated this weekend, their fate could be sealed before they play their final game if they fail to win at White Hart Lane, Newcastle beat QPR, Leicester get a point at Sunderland and the Black Cats win their game in hand in midweek.
Even if results do go their way, then Hull's hopes could still rest on a tricky match against Manchester United on the last day of the season.
The positive news for Steve Bruce’s side is that Spurs are in an end-of-season slump, having won just one of their last six matches and failing to score in their last two outings - defeats to Manchester City and Stoke.
Their recent run of results has seen them fall out of contention for a Champions League place and they are now in danger of missing out on the Europa League if they cannot arrest their poor form.
Team news
Vlad Chiriches and Emmanuel Adebayor will be missing for Spurs through suspension and illness respectively.
Kyle Walker (foot) and Ben Davies (shoulder) remain sidelined, but fellow full-back Danny Rose is fully fit after a groin injury.
David Meyler is also pushing for a recall for Hull, but Mohamed Diame (knee) and Gaston Ramirez (hamstring) are both ruled out for the rest of the season.
Opta stats
Tottenham have won four and lost none of their last six Premier League fixtures against Hull City.
Hull have scored just five goals in seven previous Premier League games against Spurs and never more than once in a match.
Harry Kane's goals and assists have won Tottenham 26 points this season; more than any other player in the division.
Hull have never won a Premier League game in the month of May (W0 D3 L8).
The Tigers have conceded a league-high 13 goals from outside the box this season.
Tottenham have gained 10 points from losing positions at home this season, more than any other side.
Merson's prediction
I think Hull will beat Tottenham away. I just think Tottenham have fallen off a cliff lately and I wonder whether they really want to get in the Europa League next season.
I also think that Hull's three-at-the-back system will work better against Tottenham away than it would at home for them, plus there is less pressure on them away from home and they also they know they have to go out and win the game.
But if they do win it, and Sunderland draw and Newcastle lose, then that really opens it back up again. And so I am going to go for 2-1 to Hull to throw the cat amongst the pigeons!
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (12/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Tottenham are Sky Bet’s 3/4 favourites for the victory on Saturday, with Hull 100/30 while the draw is priced at 14/5. The Tigers will be desperate to boost their waning survival hopes, having been cut to 1/3 to join Burnley and QPR in facing the drop after last weekend’s defeat to the Clarets.
Dame N’Doye is considered their most likely source of salvation at 7/1 to score first, although Harry Kane is half that price at 7/2 to break the deadlock.
