Hull boss Steve Bruce has admitted he never imagined the Tigers would be fighting for their Barclays Premier League lives after starting their campaign with arguably the strongest squad in the club's history.

Bruce was widely credited with landing the pick of the transfer deadline day buys with Abel Hernandez, Mohamed Diame, Gaston Ramirez and on-loan Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa all arriving at the KC Stadium.

But injuries and inconsistency have left Bruce's men in the perilous position of needing to beat Manchester United on Sunday if they are to stand any chance of avoiding the drop - they must also rely on Newcastle to drop points against West Ham.

Bruce said: "At the end of August when I looked at the squad I didn't think we would be in this situation. There have been many reasons why but I don't really want to make excuses - this isn't the time for it.

"We've had a tough four or five months with big players not being able to take part but we've got to take it on the chin and accept we haven't been good enough. We've got one last chance to redeem ourselves."

Hull's woes have largely coincided with the long absences suffered by striker Nikica Jelavic, who is now back from problematic knee surgery and aiming to hit the vital winner against the club Bruce graced as a player with such aplomb but has failed to beat in 21 managerial attempts.

Despite a promising start Hernandez struggled to adapt to Premier League life, while Diame and Ramirez have suffered injuries and Ben Arfa's undoubted talent belied an attitude problem which swiftly saw him shipped off elsewhere.

The arrival of Dame N'Doye gave his side's survival hopes a fillip with back-to-back wins over Crystal Palace and Liverpool but his threat has waned and Bruce has been left to bemoan his side's fortunes in front of goal.

He added: "In training they whistle in the top corner and all the rest of it. I've always said any team you manage is only as good as your strikers.

"We've missed Jelavic badly because when you look at when he's in the team it shows you what might have happened. We haven't scored enough goals.

"You can practice all you like but it's about when the big game turns up can you stick it in the net."

All of which leaves Bruce facing up to the prospect of the pain of relegation for the first time since he went down with Birmingham in 1996 - and he admits it is not a prospect he is looking forward to if things do not go the Tigers' way on Sunday.

He added: "The one thing you don't want to be involved in is a relegation fight. It's nice going the other way but coming out of the Premier League has horrible cuts on everyone.

"People lose their jobs, their livelihood, everything is cut back to the bone. It's an awful situation. That's the worst thing, and you have to start all over again."

Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal, who has Wayne Rooney available for Sunday's match, wants to end the season on a high even though he knows victory would mean relegation for former United defender Steve Bruce.

Van Gaal said: ''I have said to the players in spite of him being a Manchester United guy, we have to do what everybody is expecting from us.

''We have the same approach as ever. We have to give our utmost best."


http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/match/395420/hull-city-manchester-united/preview

I just wish man united wil give hull city all d 3points needed for dem to escape relegation

chima04:
I just wish man united wil give hull city all d 3points needed for dem to escape relegation

Sharp guy na the only match wey remain for your ticket?

Evn iF dey get all 3 poInts, I dnt see newcastle losin.. Its a do or die game For newcastle.. Ggmu!!!

Even though am a Man u fan, I stil want them to give hull city the 3 point so that Hull city won't go for relegation.

Game on!

oya let's ball.
Bad belle is allowed

mukina2:
Game on!

but bros, arsenal d follow place now na

roooooneeeeyyyyy

chima04:
I just wish man united wil give hull city all d 3points needed for dem to escape relegation

dont worry..just 3 points needed? we ll give em enough to sit on 4th place....like we came to play ludo here

Pope22:
Even though am a Man u fan, I stil want them to give hull city the 3 point so that Hull city won't go for relegation.

make who come go now?

Bros, who suppose go naim go go

hull needs a win to qualify

i need a click to be happy

visit
www.academicmerit..com
tkns

Hullcity all u need is winning

diver maria smh

hehehehe valdez

Valdez na Fowl.
Abeg who get basket for here, be like say west brom d need am

arghhhhhh

two offsides

this lines na winch

Go boys, 3rd position is possible. The Goners are not reliable.

Goal! 1-0
*modified*
Disallowed 0-0

No fuel to watch for house, viewing centre charging #300 per match cos of fuel scarcity. Na to follow update for nairaland sure pass..

Drogba

this match neva pass one page

demmy0325:
this match neva pass one page

Bros, na me tire pass you oo. The match no d move ni?

baybeeboi:


Bros, na me tire pass you oo.
The match no d move ni?

... U don qualify for top4 na.. Wetin remain..

We are playing what is called "annoying football"
Fellaini need to be brought in in d second half.

Herrera seem helpless.

I pray we win sha.

#TeamManUtd

Readwarn:
Hull boss Steve Bruce has admitted he never imagined the Tigers would be fighting for their Barclays Premier League lives after starting their campaign with arguably the strongest squad in the club's history.

Bruce was widely credited with landing the pick of the transfer deadline day buys with Abel Hernandez, Mohamed Diame, Gaston Ramirez and on-loan Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa all arriving at the KC Stadium.

But injuries and inconsistency have left Bruce's men in the perilous position of needing to beat Manchester United on Sunday if they are to stand any chance of avoiding the drop - they must also rely on Newcastle to drop points against West Ham.

Bruce said: "At the end of August when I looked at the squad I didn't think we would be in this situation. There have been many reasons why but I don't really want to make excuses - this isn't the time for it.

"We've had a tough four or five months with big players not being able to take part but we've got to take it on the chin and accept we haven't been good enough. We've got one last chance to redeem ourselves."

Hull's woes have largely coincided with the long absences suffered by striker Nikica Jelavic, who is now back from problematic knee surgery and aiming to hit the vital winner against the club Bruce graced as a player with such aplomb but has failed to beat in 21 managerial attempts.

Despite a promising start Hernandez struggled to adapt to Premier League life, while Diame and Ramirez have suffered injuries and Ben Arfa's undoubted talent belied an attitude problem which swiftly saw him shipped off elsewhere.

The arrival of Dame N'Doye gave his side's survival hopes a fillip with back-to-back wins over Crystal Palace and Liverpool but his threat has waned and Bruce has been left to bemoan his side's fortunes in front of goal.

He added: "In training they whistle in the top corner and all the rest of it. I've always said any team you manage is only as good as your strikers.

"We've missed Jelavic badly because when you look at when he's in the team it shows you what might have happened. We haven't scored enough goals.

"You can practice all you like but it's about when the big game turns up can you stick it in the net."

All of which leaves Bruce facing up to the prospect of the pain of relegation for the first time since he went down with Birmingham in 1996 - and he admits it is not a prospect he is looking forward to if things do not go the Tigers' way on Sunday.

He added: "The one thing you don't want to be involved in is a relegation fight. It's nice going the other way but coming out of the Premier League has horrible cuts on everyone.

"People lose their jobs, their livelihood, everything is cut back to the bone. It's an awful situation. That's the worst thing, and you have to start all over again."

Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal, who has Wayne Rooney available for Sunday's match, wants to end the season on a high even though he knows victory would mean relegation for former United defender Steve Bruce.

Van Gaal said: ''I have said to the players in spite of him being a Manchester United guy, we have to do what everybody is expecting from us.

''We have the same approach as ever. We have to give our utmost best."


http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/match/395420/hull-city-manchester-united/preview

UNITED WON'T ALLOW HULL TO RELEGATE CUZ THEIR COACH STEVE BRUCE WAS A UNITED LEGEND.

demmy0325:
... U don qualify for top4 na.. Wetin remain..

Bros, Newcastle dei too now, I prefer make newcastle dei....