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Down to the wire for Newcastle

battle: Jonas Gutierrez of Newcastle United and Leroy Fer of QPR compete for the ball during their Premier League match on Saturday in London Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images
battle: Jonas Gutierrez of Newcastle United and Leroy Fer of QPR compete for the ball during their Premier League match on Saturday in London Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images

Amid dressing-room unrest, a change of manager and supporter dissatisfaction, Newcastle United's disastrous season will come to a close on Sunday with the northeast club needing a victory against West Ham United to guarantee Premier League survival.

With Burnley and Queens Park Rangers already down, the final piece of the Premier League's relegation puzzle will fall into place on Sunday - and it will be either Newcastle or Hull City who go down.

Hull remain favourites for the drop as they occupy 18th place with 34 points and not only have to beat fourth-placed Manchester United but must also hope Newcastle, two points above them, fall to the Hammers.

Newcastle's sorry season is epitomised by a run of nine defeats in their last 10 league matches and supporter protests are planned against owner Mike Ashley's running of the club at St James's Park on Sunday.

"It's come to this and we have to deal with it," Newcastle's interim manager John Carver told reporters.

"We need the supporters this weekend. Put all your differences to one side and get behind the team. We will have an inquest after."

Hull boss Steve Bruce still bears the scars from his nine-year stint as a rugged central defender for United but the 54-year-old is hoping his former club does not supply the knockout blow to his side's survival chances.

"We just have to beat Man United and I haven't done that in 17 years [as a manager]," Bruce said. "Manchester United probably owe me something after wrecking my knee, my hip and my ankle playing for them."

Sunderland, who drew 0-0 at Arsenal on Wednesday and are now safe, travel to Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea will lift the Premier League title for the first time since 2010.

Apart from the final relegation spot, the only other outstanding issue to be decided is which teams will finish fifth and sixth to claim two of the three Europa League places.

Liverpool, who are fifth on 62 points, travel to Stoke City while Spurs, in sixth on 61, travel to Everton.

Southampton, who are seventh on 60, travel to Manchester City, who will finish second.

But the team that finishes seventh will only take a Europa League spot if Arsenal beat Aston Villa in the FA Cup final on May 30. If Villa win, they will take the Europa League spot.

Sunday's fixtures (all matches kick off at 4pm):

Stoke City v Liverpool, Newcastle United v West Ham United, Manchester City v Southampton, Leicester City v Queens Park Rangers, Hull City v Manchester United, Everton v Tottenham Hotspur, Crystal Palace v Swansea City, Chelsea v Sunderland, Aston Villa v Burnley, Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion.

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