Hull City host Manchester United at the KC Stadium on the final day of the Premier League season this Sunday needing a victory to stand any hope of surviving relegation.
Two points from safety, the Tigers must beat Louis van Gaal's side and hope that West Ham United take points off Newcastle United at St James' Park to stay in the top flight.
Hull City
© Getty Images
Hull City fans familiar with Steve Bruce's managerial record against his former club could be forgiven for resigning themselves to life in the Championship next term.
Only a victory will do on Sunday but Bruce, in 20 attempts, dating back to his Crystal Palace days, has never been on the winning side against the Red Devils - for whom he played for nine years.
In truth, City have provided little evidence from their recent outings to suggest that the 54-year-old can break that hoodoo against the visitors, with Hull losing their last three games. Those back-to-back wins over Crystal Palace and Liverpool toward the end of April seem a long, long time ago now.
Hull, who have never won a Premier League game in the month of May, looked determined to maintain that record; losing 3-1 to Arsenal 19 days ago, before Burnley beat them 1-0 at the KC Stadium in the result that had alarm bells ringing louder than ever before.
They take a 2-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur into Sunday's clash and it remains to be seen if Bruce can stop the rot in time. Now would be the perfect moment for him to secure a maiden win over his old club. He knows what the penalty is should that winless streak stretch to 21.
Recent form: LWWLLL
Manchester United
© Getty Images
Re-entering the top four was always the realistic aim for Manchester United in Van Gaal's maiden season in charge - mission accomplished for the Dutchman. Although not a mathematical certainty, United travel to Hull knowing that they are almost guaranteed to finish fourth.
They will be back in the Champions League next season - barring a disastrous elimination from the two-legged playoff in August - and, overall, it has been a productive season for them.
Despite blowing the guts of £150m in a lavish summer spending spree, the Red Devils have achieved the real aim and laid solid foundations to build on for next season.
Van Gaal will perhaps be concerned by the way in which his troops are finishing the campaign, though. They are limping toward the finish line, after winning just four points from a possible 15 over the last five weeks or so.
Last week they drew 1-1 with Arsenal - who are poised to pip them to third place - and endured a three-match losing streak before beating Crystal Palace 2-1 to stop the rot.
By virtue of the fact that they won five points from a possible 15 at the start of the season, it could be argued that United have paid the penalty for the way in which they have begun and finished the league campaign.
That will be an aspect of Van Gaal's tenure that he will be keen to address during the summer months. Success next season could hinge on it.
Recent form: WLLLWD
Team News
© Getty Images
Bruce announced that he has no fresh injury concerns for Sunday's encounter, with Robert Snodgrass, Mohamed Diame and Gaston Ramirez the only absentees.
This means that Nikica Jelavic, who came off after 62 minutes at White Hart Lane to spark fears over his fitness, having missed much of the season, is fit to start.
Meanwhile, Van Gaal confirmed that Wayne Rooney would return to his first XI after missing the draw with Arsenal, but was less sure about goalkeeper David de Gea.
The Spaniard came off late on last week before being replaced by Victor Valdes, but the Dutch manager said that he was unsure whether or not De Gea would return this weekend.
However, Jonny Evans and Luke Shaw are unlikely to feature.
Hull City possible starting lineup:
Harper; Chester, Dawson, McShane; Elmohamady, Meyler, Huddlestone, Quinn; N'Doye, Jelavic
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Valdes; Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Rojo; Blind, Herrera, Mata, Fellaini, Young; Rooney
Head To Head
Ominously for the hosts, United have won each and every one of the teams' previous seven meetings, stretching back to the 2008-09 campaign. In those seven defeats, Hull have scored just eight compared to the Red Devils' tally of 21. Van Gaal's men won the reverse fixture 3-0 at Old Trafford back in November.
Video Preview
Hit play below to see what the Sports Mole Sofa had to say about this encounter:
We say: Hull 2-3 Manchester United
Hull have precious little choice but to give it their all on Sunday, but we predict that they will still fall short and drop down to the Championship. The visitors, meanwhile, have little chance of catching Arsenal but that may allow them the freedom to rediscover the free-scoring form that has eluded them in recent weeks.
No Data Analysis info
