Hull City V Sunderland Betting: Saturday, 24th April

Hull City V Sunderland

Saturday, 24^th April – 15:00 (GMT)

Hull City

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LWLLD

With just three games left to play, Hull find themselves in a sticky situation, or as Iain Dowie likes to now call it “Squeaky Bum-Time”. The dopey looking figure has hit the nail on the head as Hull fans must be bricking it as the Tigers failed to capitalize on a glorious opportunity to narrow the gap between them and safety after losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa. It means there’s no margin for error, as if there was before, and that Hull must now win at least two of their remaining three league fixtures just to have any chance of avoiding what no looks an inevitable drop.

To say Hull are buggered wouldn’t be an exaggeration as they require a tonne of luck and good fortune to get them out of the mess they’re in right now. On Wednesday, victory over Aston Villa would have sent Hull level on points with West Ham in 17^th but Hull wasted that chance, a hard one at that, and instead find themselves back at square 1. However, their predicament is a tricky one as they now need not only to win their remaining three games, ideally, but others to lend them a helping hand as well by beating West ham directly above them. The Hammers are basically one win away from guaranteed safety as Hull’s goal difference of -40 is dire and effectively deadly.

They have been blessed in some respect in that they’ve been handed a second chance in the form of another home fixture only this time against an easier opponent. Sunderland are their next tormentor, I mean opponent, as Hull aim to break their baron four game run without a league win on Saturday against a Sunderland side which has won just once away from home all season. That makes for dire reading but it’s one more than Hull have managed this season, but that’s another story. At home, however, Hull have fared a bit better, although not a lot. The Tigers have registered six wins at The KC Stadium and have won twice since the start of the year. However, their last two home games have ended in disaster as defeats to Burnley (1-4) and Aston Villa (0-2) don’t make for light reading.

Iain Dowie has drowned on for weeks now that this group of players have plenty of fight and bags of grit. So why haven’t we seen any of either? Since Dowie took over at the Hull helm aiming to be their saviour, an ugly version of Superman if you like, Hull have picked up just four points from a possible eighteen and have arguably fared a load worse under Dowie’s influence then they perhaps might of under their former manager, a fan favourite, Phil Brown. It was a bizarre decision at the time and one that cannot be undone now, but it’s a decision which looks even more likely haunt the Hull board as Hull’s one-way flight to the Championship is nearing it’s destination.

Sunderland

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: DLWLW

Steve Bruce will be hoping to double Sunderland’s slim and rather embarrassing away win tally of just one win all season when they travel to Hull to take on a Tigers team plagued with relegation it would seem. Hull’s Tigers haven’t had much to roar about in recent weeks, although their point last weekend at Birmingham will have raised spirits, but Sunderland’s Black Cats got their cream last Saturday as they beat one of Hull’s relegation compatriots in Burnley 2-1 at The Stadium of Light. Can the Cats land their first back-to-back league wins of the season (Yes, of the season!) at the Tigers’ expense.

In fairness, the only real difference between these two teams, apart from Sunderland boasting one of the league’s biggest improver’s of the season in Darren Bent, is Sunderland’s decent form back on home soil. However, if their home form mirrored that of their away then Steve Bruce would be in a similar predicament to that of Iain Dowie at Hull as Sunderland have been useless away from home this season. Bolton are the only team they’ve beaten on the road this season, with even that rare piece of away delight coming on the opening day of a closing season, while Sunderland are on the verge of recording their third successive away defeat should they lose yet again on Saturday.

Liverpool 3-0 and West Ham 1-0 mean Sunderland could make it a hat-trick of away losses if they fall to defeat at The KC stadium this Saturday. It’s a hat-trick they won’t want to complete that’s for sure, although, Sunderland’s dire away record of 1-2-14 makes that losing scenario a genuine possibility. Moreover, their opponents, Hull City, have everything to play for and need each and every point they can get hold off. Sunderland, however, have nothing but minor placings to concern them and, at least in their recent away fixtures, finishing a little higher up hasn’t concerned them as they’ve been dreadful on the road for ages and haven’t scored away from home in over 200 minutes.

Sunderland’s remaining away fixtures do mean the Black Cats have a couple of great opportunities to end their season with an away high as fans won’t want to see the campaign finish with just one away win all season. After this trip to Hull, Sunderland travel to Wolves. Arguably the game with Hull does appear easier but Wolves, by the time the last set of fixtures comes around, could have nothing to play for as well as they appear to have survival wrapped up also. We hope Sunderland give it their all in both encounters as it would be a shame to cap a promising season off with an 18 game away run without winning.

Match Verdict: Sunderland to WIN – 3.25 SkyBet

Hull will try to win, at least we hope, but it will be vein once more as Sunderland, a side who’ve won just once away from The Stadium of Light all season, look a decent bet to double their tally at Hull’s expense, virtually relegating the club in the process.

Hull have looked a team doomed for some time in our eyes even though their remaining fixtures were decent enough for them to pick up sufficient points to remain in the Premiership. They’ve passed up the easy fixtures and are now relying on some big displays from their little players in the big encounters against teams who, quite simply, are a lot better than them. Sunderland are one of those ‘better’ teams nd with Darren Bent in the form of his life just before the plane for South Africa departs, we fancy our chances on the Black Cats at The KC Stadium.

Sunderland are the value of the weekend by quite some distance.

Match Odds

Hull City – 2.38 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 Bet365

Sunderland – 3.25 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Darren Bent FGS – 6.50 Coral