Are Swansea City better placed to survive in the Premier League than Hull City following the weekend’s games?
Without an away league win since August, having conceded 15 goals in their last five away games and having conceded an 90th minute penalty, you could forgive Hull City fans for being jubilant when the final whistle was blown on their match – a 0-0 draw – against Southampton at the weekend. Staff and players seemed equally buoyant with the point, their first on their travels since February 1st, which lifted the Tigers three points clear of Swansea City, with the Swans playing their game away at Old Trafford the following day.
Leaving St Mary’s, the positivity was easy to understand, but one couldn’t help but feel the game had been a missed opportunity. As bad as the Tigers are on their travels, the Saints had won just one of their last five home games, including defeat to West Ham and a draw with Bournemouth. Resigned to a mid table finish, the side from the south coast had little to play for, and were virtually dominated by Marco Silva’s men in the first half.
Marco Silva has worked miracles at Hull City
A Kamil Grosicki free-kick which cracked off the post was the closest Hull City came, despite their first half dominance, and the second half was a far more even affair, with the Saints coming within inches of an injury time winner, but for the brilliance of Tigers stopper Eldin Jakupovic. Yet, it was very apparent that Marco Silva was happy to settle for a point.
His substitutions, all three of them, could be considered defensive. Only Markus Henriksen for Evandro could be argued as a like-for-like; Tom Huddlestone taking the place of Kamil Grosicki and Michael Dawson coming on for Lazar Markovic were both very conservative moves. Silva has worked miracles since his arrival at the KCOM stadium, but was he right to settle so wilfully for a solitary point?
Will Paul Clement feel Swansea City are better placed after the weekend?
Swansea City’s draw at Manchester United on Sunday saw the gap restored to just two points between the Tigers and the Swans. Good news for Hull, according to some. The same margin with one less game would appear, on the face of it, to be a successful week for Hull City. However, that’s a little too simplistic for my liking, and with just three games to go in the Premier League now, one really must look to each club’s remaining fixtures.
This coming weekend, Hull City play host to already relegated Sunderland, whilst Swansea see the visit of Everton. The Black Cats present a real potential banana skin for Hull City, but even if one ignores that, and supposes that everything goes to plan for the Tigers, they will find themselves five points clear of Paul Clement’s side, with final fixtures away to Crystal Palace and at home to Tottenham. Meanwhile, the Swans head to Sunderland before a home game against West Brom on the final day.
Hull City and Swansea City still have Sunderland to come
The bookies still make Hull City strong favourites to retain their Premier League status. I cannot be so sure. The Swans have a great chance of winning their final two games, whilst one cannot rule out the possibility of them taking something at home to an Everton side who have drawn to West Ham and lost to Chelsea in their most recent outings. If Swansea are to reach 38 or even 39 points, Hull City will have to beat either Crystal Palace or Tottenham, as well as Sunderland, to keep their heads above the water.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
