Marco Silva's three-year run without losing a home league match came to an end on Saturday afternoon, as Sunderland ran out 2-0 winners over his Hull City side.
The already-relegated Black Cats netted twice in the second half through Billy Jones and Jermain Defoe, earning themselves just a sixth win of the season.
Hull had numerous chances to find the net but could not find a way past inspired visiting keeper Pickford, meaning that their survival hopes now rest on results elsewhere.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
2.00pmHello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Hull City and Sunderland at the KCOM Stadium. It is another huge day at the bottom end of the division, with the Tigers taking on their already-relegated opponents in the knowledge that three points will put serious pressure on Swansea City, who face Everton in South Wales in the day's evening kickoff.
2.02pmCrystal Palace are far from safe just yet, trailing Manchester City by three goals heading into the closing stages of the lunchtime kickoff, but for now it is Hull and Swansea who are under the spotlight with just a few games left to play. Sunderland have little to play for on the face of it, meanwhile, having been relegated last weekend with a home defeat to Bournemouth, so it remains to be seen what sort of fight they will put up.
2.04pmTEAM NEWS!
HULL CITY XI: Jakupovic, Elmohamady, Ranocchia, Maguire, Robertson, Markovic, N'Diaye, Clucas, Grosicki, Hernandez, Niasse
SUNDERLAND XI: Pickford, O'Shea, Jones, Kone, Manquillo, Denayer, Honeyman, Ndong, Defoe, Anichebe, Borini
2.06pmStarting with a look at the home team, boss Marco Silva has made one change from the side that drew 0-0 with Southampton a week ago. The Portuguese has rolled the dice somewhat by bringing in Abel Hernandez for Evandro, meaning Oumar Niasse will be given some support in attack. Hull had no injury concerns heading into this game, while Evandro is fit and among the subs, so a big call made by their impressive manager.
2.08pmOmar Elabdellaoui and Diemurci Mbokani have both been struggling with injury of late, the latter of whom has managed to shake off a hamstring issue in time to take up a spot on the bench, but there is no place for the former who is lacking fitness. Plenty of weight on the shoulders of leading man Niasse, as he looks to add to a tally that has seen him net five in 16 games since joining on loan from Everton.
2.10pmIt looks likely to be a 4-4-2 as far as the hosts are concerned, with Hernandez joining Niasse up top, while Kamil Grosicki and Lazar Markovic will provide support from the flanks. Silva has rejuvenated his squad since coming on board at the start of the year, with those two wide men both being brought in to help the Tigers towards pulling off a great escape of sorts. Another loanee in Andrea Ranocchia has also impressed, taking his spot this afternoon in defence alongside Harry Maguire.
2.12pmIn terms of the visitors, David Moyes has handed just a second Premier League start to youngster George Honeyman in what appears to be a three-man midfield, joined by Jason Denayer and Didier Ndong. Three changes made by Moyes in all, as he sticks largely with the group that has been unable to arrest this poor run of form, with Jermain Defoe and Jordan Pickford - both expected to move on this summer - starting at either end of the field.
2.14pmThere is no change in the attacking ranks, in fact, as Fabio Borini and Victor Anichebe once again join Defoe in the front three. Wahbi Khazri is nowhere to be seen, with Billy Jones joining Denayer and Honeyman in returning to the starting lineup. It remains to be seen how many of these players will form part of the Black Cats' squad next season, but one man they will be desperate to hold to is Defoe - the scorer of four goals in five meetings with Hull.
2.16pmAnichebe has a point to prove, meanwhile, having failed to score in 12 matches since the reverse meeting with Hull. Elsewhere, there is no room for Sebastian Larsson in the Sunderland XI despite his return from a three-game ban, while Jack Rodwell is another who misses out on inclusion in the central midfield area. A 4-3-3 up against 4-4-2 this afternoon, then, but expect those visiting forwards to drop deep at times to help make up the numbers.
2.18pmBENCH WATCH!
HULL CITY SUBS: Marshall, Dawson, Huddlestone, Maloney, Henriksen, Evandro, Mbokani
SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Djilobodji, Khazri, Love, Gooch, Rodwell, Larsson
2.20pmStill no room in the Hull XI for Tom Huddlestone and Michael Dawson, who are joined among the subs by the returning Diemurci Mbokani and Evandro - the only player to drop out from last weekend's meeting with Southampton. The Black Cats have Lynden Gooch back in their matchday squad, meanwhile, and Sebastian Larsson is also back following that controversial decision to dismiss him against Man United a month ago.
2.22pmHull City manager Marco Silva has made one change to his starting lineup, bringing in Abel Hernandez for Evandro as he goes with a 4-4-2 formation. Three alterations made by David Moyes, on the other hand, including a second Premier League start in Sunderland colours for George Honeyman. Jermain Defoe again starts up top, joined by Fabio Borini and Victor Anichebe.
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2.24pmA big opportunity for Hull to take a giant step towards survival this afternoon, then, as they have the advantage of playing a few hours before fellow strugglers Swansea. The Tigers start the day in 17th place, two points above the Swans and just four off Crystal Palace who have been thrashed by Man City elsewhere today. Interestingly, the Eagles play host to Hull in a week's time, so a two-way battle could well see a third team dragged in by the final day.
2.26pmIt is fair to say that Marco Silva has worked wonders at the KCOM Stadium since taking over from Mike Phelan, particularly at home where he has collected 19 points from a possible 21 - Burnley the only team to leave here with a point since Manchester City on Boxing Day. The Tigers have earned successive wins on Humberside over Watford, Middlesbrough, West Ham United and, most important of the lot, Swansea City. After looking down and out at one point, not helped by the loss of arguably their two best players in January, City are now favourites to stay up.
2.28pmSilva's work certainly has not gone unnoticed, with Portuguese giants Porto reportedly looking to bring him on board in the summer. There is an agreement in place that will see Hull extend his short-term deal should they avoid the drop, but that means very little in this day and age with other interested parties willing to pay big compensation fees. Indeed, if the Tigers do stay in the Premier League then keeping hold of their impressive young boss will be their most important task.
2.30pmSilva was not completely unknown at the time, albeit far from a household name following stints in Greece and his Portuguese homeland. The 39-year-old has not lost a home league match since March 2014, when his Estoril side went down 1-0 to Rio Ave - all the hallmarks of another certain Portuguese boss, Jose Mourinho, who also boasted an incredible record on home soil.
2.32pmHull have been relying almost exclusively on their home form to keep them afloat, but they did end their away drought last weekend by escaping from St Mary's with a share of the spoils. They had Eldin Jakupovic to thank for that - the big stopper keeping out Dusan Tadic's penalty in the dying embers of the match to earn Silva just a second away point in eight attempts. Overall, City have the worst away record in the division with just six points.
2.34pmLast weekend's draw on the South Coast also saw the Tigers earn a rare clean sheet, having previously kept out the opposition just four times this term and conceded 67 times in all. Only Swansea have shipped more across the duration of the season, while no side has kept fewer shutouts than the Humberside outfit. Plenty of positives to take from that massive point seven days ago, then, and you would fancy them to take all three this afternoon.
2.36pmWill Hull's home form be enough to keep them up, though? They follow up this winnable fixture against Sunderland with the final-day visit of Tottenham Hotspur, who will almost certainly be left with nothing to play for at that stage in the season. In between comes that trip to Palace, which has now taken on even more significance as the Eagles are just six points clear of the drop zone - three if results go against them in the next few hours.
2.38pmAll eyes will be on the Liberty Stadium come full time here, with the Swans playing host to an Everton side who themselves have little left to play for on the face of it. That is a far tougher fixture than the one Hull face, though, while next weekend the Swans travel to take on Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats may already be down, but they could have a huge say in which side joins them - and presumably Middlesbrough - in facing the drop.
2.40pmDID YOU KNOW? Hull City have conceded a league-high tally of 12 penalties this season, 10 of which have been successfully converted. Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic saved the other two in that sequence, including late on last weekend up against Southampton's Dusan Tadic to put another welcome point on the board for the Tigers. No side in Premier League history has conceded more in a single campaign.
2.42pmMarco Silva, pictured here with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, has worked wonders since taking charge of Hull City. The Portuguese may have largely relied on home form, with just two points collected in away matched, but it looks like being enough to fend off Swansea City. A fifth home win on the spin would lift them five points clear of the Swans, who are in action this evening.
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2.44pmThe visitors make the trip to Humberside simply playing for pride, although that is a word that has not been used a great deal this campaign in the North-East. The Black Cats' decade-long stay in the Premier League officially came to an end last weekend after a home loss to Bournemouth, coupled with Hull's battling draw at Southampton, confirmed their fate. Now the rebuilding ahead of next season can begin.
2.46pmMoyes confirmed on Friday that he will stay in charge of the club next season, but there is no denying that this has been another disastrous managerial spell for the Scotsman. On the back of disappointment with Man United and Real Sociedad, he has again failed - albeit with his hand forced at times - and is perhaps fortunate to remain in the job. Sunderland have been as good as down for a while now, spending 261 days in the bottom three by the time the final ball is kicked.
2.48pmAfter years of flirtation the Black Cats have finally dropped down into the second tier, which many supporters will hope gives them the chance to start afresh and rebuild for a brighter future. Unless Moyes is backed financially, though, in much the same was as Newcastle United chief Rafael Benitez this term - helped by the ludicrous transfer fee generated by Moussa Sissoko - then it could be a long road back.
2.50pmSunderland have lost 23 and won just five of their 34 games so far this season, putting them among the worst sides to have competed in the top flight. In terms of their recent form, the Black Cats have lost five of their last six - a 2-2 draw with West Ham United on home soil the only respite - and have gone 10 matches without victory since producing their standout display of the season when beating Crystal Palace 4-0 on February 14.
2.52pmThat victory came on the back of a well-earned point against Tottenham at the Stadium of Light, giving supporters brief hope of another great escape. In the end a 4-0 loss to Southampton put paid to those hopes, and ever since it has essentially been a case of when rather than if. 'When' proved to be last Saturday, and now relegated Sunderland must gear themselves up for upcoming games away to Arsenal and Chelsea.
2.54pmPREVIOUS MEETINGS! Sunderland have won seven of their last 11 league meetings with Hull City, but their 3-0 reverse at the Stadium of Light was the first in five attempts. The losing side in this fixture has failed to score in 23 of the previous 29 encounters, meanwhile, which was the case in that last affair when goals from Defoe, Anichebe and Djilobodji went unanswered.
2.56pmWith kickoff at the KCOM Stadium now less than five minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.
Marco Silva: "For me nothing has changed. It is normal that [speculation over my future] will start now but we will never lose our focus and we have one goal in mind. I see my future today and tomorrow to prepare the team and I am focused on playing well and winning next Saturday. This is what is important - not what happens in two months."
David Moyes: "I've got a four-year contract and I'll be Sunderland manager next season. I know what needs to be done to get back in the Premier League and I know what the requirements are to do that. I met with Martin [Bain] and Ellis [Short] this week and we had initial discussions about how we move forward. We will meet again in a few weeks."
2.58pmIt is fair to say that these two managers are currently heading in opposite directions in terms of their job prospects. Hull chief Marco Silva looks destined for the top, even if he has only been in English football for four months or so, while David Moyes has now essentially failed in his last three managerial positions and has a mammoth task on his hands at the Stadium of Light come the start of next season.
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1 minKICKOFF! We are up and running at the KCOM Stadium ahead of a huge few hours at the bottom end of the Premier League. Hull City with the chance to move five clear of 18th-placed Swansea City, who take on Everton later today.
3 minSunderland already looking as though they are playing with a little more freedom, as Borini attempts to catch out Jakupovic early on with a speculative half-volley. The first attempt of the afternoon was well wide in the end, though.
5 minCLOSE! Grosicki played in down the left by Hernandez but his attempted cut-back is cleared away. O'Shea the man who got his boot to the ball, while instantly up the other end Honeyman headed wide from a free header.
7 minThe Black Cats certainly looking far livelier already today than for the vast majority of this season, with that Honeyman headed a decent chance to open the scoring. Relegation could well prove to be a weight off the shoulders.
9 minSHOT! Hull enjoying a spell of pressure now and, after finding himself in plenty of space 30 yards from goal, Sam Clucas decided to take range. Right down the middle in the end, where Pickford was waiting to collect.
11 minFairly eventful start to the match at the KCOM Stadium, then, with a few attempts already. The best of the lot fell the way of Honeyman, who directed his header narrowly wide when left unmarked inside the box.
13 minNo real sign of Hull breaking down an organised Sunderland defence at the moment. Clucas was given plenty of time and space to shoot a little earlier, so that may prove to be their best route through for now.
15 minNot a great deal of action over the past five minutes or so, in truth. Hull seeing plenty of the ball but not really being allowed to do a lot with it in the final third, as a lofted delivery towards the back post is collected by Pickford.
17 minGrosicki has been Hull's best hope of a way through so far, jinking past Billy Jones down the left and sending a teasing ball into the area. No home player able to get on it, though, and the Tigers' wait for a chance goes on.
19 minNdong works the ball on to his left boot, sending a deflected shot behind from 25 yards out for a first corner of the contest. Hull defend it and nearly spring a counter, but Markovic could not quite get the ball clear.
21 minSAVE! The best attacking move of the match so far ends with Clucas testing Pickford. Grosicki again involved, with his left-sided cross nodded down to Clucas, whose first-time shot was palmed away by the Sunderland stopper.
23 minSHOT! Hull really beginning to step things up now, as Maguire turns brilliantly 25 yards out and unleashes a shot that flies narrowly wide. Pickford had it covered, but that is now a couple of decent openings in two minutes.
25 minThe visitors have played well enough in the opening 25 minutes of the match, but they are now having to do a fair bit of defending. A respite of sorts, though, as Manquillo is played into space and wins his side a corner.
27 minYELLOW CARD! Sam Clucas rightly cautioned for a strong challenge on Ndong. N'Diaye gives the ball away in midfield, after Niasse did likewise a little earlier, leading to one or two groans around the ground.
29 minSHOT! Defoe drops deep, picking up the ball a good 40 yards from goal. After charging towards the box he let leash, but his attempt ended wide of the target. Hull struggling to find any sort of rhythm at the moment.
31 minHull not afraid to get the ball into the box from wide areas, but the deliveries have been lacking and Pickford is again able to collect Robertson's cross. Over a third of the game played and we are still all square.
33 minHull's appeal for a penalty is turned down by referee Neil Swarbrick. Niasse's overhead kick certainly hit O'Shead on the elbow, but there was less than a yard between ball and player and it would have been extremely harsh.
35 minYELLOW CARD! Kamil Grosicki, just about Hull's best player so far this afternoon, enters the referee's book for a challenge on Borini. Ten minutes of the half to play and there is still no route through for the Tigers.
37 minGrosicki managing to get himself in behind on a fairly constant basis, winning his side a first corner of the afternoon from his latest foray into the box. The loose ball is latched on to by Markovic, who hammers high over the bar.
39 minSHOT! Hernandez ghosts past O'Shea and has a sight of goal, opting to take on the shot and sending it wide of the post rather than lying it off for a teammate. Wrong choice in the end, with that a rare clear-cut opportunity for the hosts.
41 minCity well and truly beginning to turn the screw now, but it is looking increasingly likely that we will go into the break all square. The pressure will only increase on the the relegation-threatened hosts if that remains the case.
43 minHernandez cannot quite bring Robertson's pass under control and Pickford is there to collect. Sunderland enjoy another spell on the ball high up the field, with Jones's cross deflecting behind for a third corner.
45 minJohn O'Shea peels off Maguire at the near post to meet the corner, which he can only flick wide of the far post. The Irishman needed a teammate gambling behind him, but in the end it went straight behind for a goal kick.
45+2 minHALF TIME: HULL CITY 0-0 SUNDERLAND
3.47pmAnichebe with a shot at the end of the half, which was on target but easily collected by Jakupovic - the Black Cats' first attempt on goal. Hull just about edged the first half, forcing one good stop out of Pickford in particular, but they need to do more in the second half if they are to claim all three points from the game.
3.50pmThe Black Cats were playing with a little more freedom from the off, having seen their decade-long stay in the top flight come to an end last weekend, and they should have been ahead inside the opening five minutes. A cross into the box was met by young midfielder George Honeyman, who nodded wide unmarked on just his second start of the season.
3.53pmSam Clucas twice came close to making a first-half breakthrough, testing Jordan Pickford from the best chance of the opening 45 minutes when blasting on goal at the end of a knockdown, while also sending another attempt down the middle from range. Home boss Marco Silva made one change to his side for today's clash, bringing in Abel Hernandez to partner Oumar Niasse up top, and it almost paid off as the Uruguayan cut inside 39 minutes in and curled narrowly wide.
3.56pmSunderland have not making life too easy for their opponents, though, holding out until the break and coming close to getting off the mark themselves through a Victor Anichebe shot on target from the last meaningful act of the half. With the deadlock yet to be broken, could we see a change in personnel at the interval?
HULL CITY SUBS: Marshall, Dawson, Huddlestone, Maloney, Henriksen, Evandro, Mbokani
SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Djilobodji, Khazri, Love, Gooch, Rodwell, Larsson
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46 minRESTART! Sunderland get us back under way at the KCOM Stadium! Hull City were made to work hard against Watford here last time out, scoring twice in the second half, and now something similar is needed here.
48 minA second penalty appeal of the afternoon for Hull is waved away. Markovic was sent to the ground by Anichebe, yet it appeared to simply be a case of the Sunderland man having too much strength. Close one, but the right call.
50 minRobertson with a cross from the left, but again it is far too easy for Pickford to collect. A change of ploy required for the hosts, as Sunderland are no doubt happy to continue this way for the next 40 minutes or so.
52 minSAVE! Glorious chance for Defoe to open the scoring for the visitors. Pickford released the prolific striker, who could only fire at Jakupovic when through on goal. Defoe may have had a little too much time, if anything.
54 minCHANCE! A minute or so after coming close to falling behind, Hull have wasted a big chance of their own to edge ahead. Star man Grosicki's lofted ball was somehow bundled wide by Alfred N'Diaye, who had plenty of the target to aim for.
56 minGreat game on our hands now, with both teams seemingly going all out for the opening goal. A poor defensive header allowed Defoe to again get in behind, but he was caught by Robertson and was then unable to shake him off, before blasting wide.
58 minSAVE! Brilliant save from Pickford after Elmohamady finally picked out a teammate in the box - Markovic heading on target from eight yards out but denied by the Sunderland stopper. That breakthrough goal surely now moments away.
60 minCLOSE! Chances galore at the KCOM Stadium! Robertson makes a great run and his cross deflects nicely into the path of Hernandez, whose shot from close range is deflected behind. So, so close to an opener for the Tigers!
62 minMarkovic is currently down receiving some treatment, disrupting the flow of what has been a gripping second half so far. It was around about now that City made the breakthrough against Watford in their last home outing.
64 minMarkovic appears unable to continue after that challenge, so Hull currently down to 10 while Huddlestone readies himself to come on. The Tigers need to get the midfielder on and find their rhythm again, having come close to a breakthrough a couple of times.
66 minSHOT! Half a chance for Defoe, who put his foot through the ball right on the edge of the box but cleared the bar. The Englishman has had a few openings today, none of which he has managed to take. Huddlestone now on for Markovic.
68 minA bit of panic at the back as Manquillo and Pickford appeared to get in each other's way, but the keeper commanded the box and grabbed the ball under pressure from Grosicki. Such a tightly-poised game on our hands at the KCOM Stadium.
70 minGOAL! HULL CITY 0-1 SUNDERLAND (BILLY JONES)
71 minFor the second time today, O'Shea wins a header at the front post. On this occasion he had a teammate gambling behind him - Billy Jones leaping on to the ball with a header that flew past Jakupovic. Hull with it all to do now!
73 minHull fans stunned by that Jones goal, which leaves their side needing two goals in the remaining 17 minutes. Very little momentum since Markovic was taken off, forcing a slight reshuffle in the middle of the pitch.
75 minCHANCE! Hernandez feeling optimistic as he tries his luck from long range, but Pickford was able to backpedal and grab the ball. From the next attack, Niasse prodded wide when picked out by Robertson - big chance.
77 minSAVE! What a save from Pickford! Niasse turns provider to pick out Hernandez just a few yards out, but his shot is somehow kept out by the Sunderland stopper. May have hit his face - he got there regardless.
79 minSUNDERLAND SUB! Larsson is introduced, making his return from a three-game ban. Defoe and Maguire squared up before than, but there appeared to be little in it and referee Neil Swarbrick did not reach into his pocket.
81 minWe are now into the final 10 minutes of this entertaining contest on Humberside, where Hull are the side asking all the questions. No idea how they have yet to score, but rescuing a draw now looks their only hope.
83 minA corner is only cleared as far as Ranocchia, who dropped to the edge of the box. The Inter Milan loanee saw his attempt blocked by O'Shea, with teammates better placed either side. Just one of those days for the frustrated hosts.
85 minYELLOW CARD! Sunderland now have the chance to counter at will, but Anichebe was hauled back by Ahmed Elmohamady when attempting to do just that. The Hull defender rightly cautioned by Neil Swarbrick.
87 minHULL CITY SUB! Silva going all out now, bringing on Evandro for Ahmed Elmohamady and going with three at the back. Likely to be constant pressure for these next three minutes or so, plus a chunk of added time.
89 minCHANCES! Substitute Evandro drags wide from the edge of the box, moments after the visitors squandered a chance to put the game to bed at the opposite end of the pitch. Anichebe booked for holding up play.
90+1 minWe are now into the first of four added-on minutes at the KCOM Stadium. Hull's hopes of survival hanging by a thread as things stand, knowing that this was a fixture that they quite simply had to win. Still plenty of time for a goal!
90+3 minGOAL! HULL CITY 0-2 SUNDERLAND (JERMAIN DEFOE)
90+4 minDefoe, quite clearly offside, bundles the ball home from a few yards out to end his scoring drought and earn all three points for Sunderland. Silva's three-year unbeaten home run is now over, with just one minute left to play here.
90+5 minFULL TIME: HULL CITY 0-2 SUNDERLAND
4.56pmA truly massive result at the bottom end of the Premier League, then, as Sunderland run out 2-0 winners against Hull City. The Black Cats may already be down, but this result could well see the Tigers join them in facing the drop. Billy Jones and Jermain Defoe registered, meaning that Swansea City's fate is now in their own hands in their final three games.
4.58pmThat concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at the KCOM Stadium. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction from this and the day's other games can be found elsewhere on the site in the coming hours. Thanks for joining!
