Hull’s inevitable relegation has been sealed, after a 4-0 collapse at the hands of Sam Allardyce’s Crystal Palace.
The Tiger’s have flirted with safety since appointing Marco Silva as manager in January, but in the end even the brilliance of the Portuguese coach couldn’t keep the side in the Premier League.
Of course, the pressure was on Hull.
This afternoon’s clash against Palace was the ultimate “relegation six-pointer”, after Swansea’s win against Sunderland on Saturday.
Silva’s side needed to win at Selhurst Park and still hope for a miracle.
But boy, did they fall short.
It was all seemingly too much for some.
Including defender Andrea Ranocchia, who set the tone for Hull’s collapse after he got the very basics of defending wrong inside the opening three minutes.
A Palace throw-in seemed harmless enough, but as the Italian perfunctory swung his foot at the ball and missed, Wilfried Zaha seized on the error and coolly slotted home past Eldin Jakupovic.
Not the start Silva’s side had hoped for.
Things only got worse for Hull, as Christian Benteke doubled Palace’s lead before half-time, while late goals from Luka Milivojevic, from the late penalty spot, and substitute Patrick van Aanholt, completed Hull’s misery.
Palace’s win seals their top-flight safety, which consolidates Allardyce’s track record as a relegation-battle escapologist.
As Russell Brand once said: “Yes Sam, yes Sam! Give the man the credit he deserves!”
DREAM TEAM POINTS
Crystal Palace: Hennessey 8, Ward 8, Kelly 8, Tomkins 8, Schlupp 10, Puncheon 4, Milivojevic 8, Zaha 8, Cabaye -1, Townsend 0, Benteke 13
Subs: McArthur 5. van Aanholt 12, Delaney 5
Booked: Puncheon, Cabake, van Aanholt
Hull: Jakupovic -3, Maguire 0, Dawson -4, Ranocchia -3, Robertson -4, Elmohamady 0, N’Diaye -1, Clucas, Grosicki 0, Goebel 0, Niasse 0
Subs: Bowen 0, Maloney 0, Davies -4
Booked: Davies, Dawson, Robertson, N’Diaye, Clucas -1
Star man: Christian Benteke