Burnley’s stint in the Premier League will officially come to an end on Saturday if they fail to secure a victory against a Hull City side that are also in desperate need of points themselves if they are to avoid dropping into the second tier of English football.

The Clarets are bottom of the league and a massive eight points from safety with only three games remaining in the season – and really, with a -27 goal difference, it seems inconceivable that they won’t be heading back to the Championship just a year after being promoted.

With just five wins all season, there is perhaps an air of inevitability about their departure, but when it comes back to reflecting on moments which may have defined their season, manager Sean Dyche will have to look no further than the 1-0 loss his side suffered at Leicester City two weeks ago.

After 59 minutes in that game, Burnley received a penalty. Matty Taylor stepped up to take it, but hit the post. 59 seconds later, Jamie Vardy put Leicester 1-0 up and that was how the score remained. Had Taylor scored that penalty and Burnley gone on to win, they would have been just two points from safety. On such fine margins are relegation battles won and lost, and Burnley will have to pick up the pieces in the summer as they prepare for life in the Championship – where they could well still be joined by their opponents on Saturday.

Steve Bruce’s side claimed a superb 1-0 win over Liverpool two weeks ago, but followed that up by getting thumped 3-1 by Arsenal, with the Tigers grateful at the full time whistle that it wasn’t 8-1 as only some wayward finishing prevented the Gunners from completely dominating proceedings.

Their fate isn’t entirely in their own hands either as – despite sitting one point above the drop zone in 17th – 18th placed Sunderland still have a game in hand, though that is against an in-form Arsenal who will be looking to cement second place in the league.

With an unkind run-in for the Tigers, who still have to go to White Hart Lane before hosting Manchester United on the final day of the season, it is imperative for Steve Bruce that this match ends in a home win.

Hull go into this game as remarkably strong favourites according to the bookies, who have them listed as evens to claim the three points – while Burnley have been given odds of 10/3 to prolong their stay in the Premier League for at least another week, with the draw available at 5/2

Tigers’ striker Nikica Jelavic remains the club’s top scorer this season with eight, despite being plagued by injury all year – which begs the question of whether Hull would already be safe had the Croatian international remained fully fit. In any case, Jelavic is 6/1 to score first or 9/4 to bag anytime.

Burnley’s best chance of a goal will come through Danny Ings, who has taken the step up to the Premier League in his stride with a return of nine goals this season. He is 13/2 to break the deadlock or 5/2 to score at any point while he’s on the pitch.