Allardyce won´t let us down, says Bruce

Hull City will need a favour from West Ham if they are to have any chance of staying in the Premier League, and Steve Bruce is confident Sam Allardyce will have his men raring to get a result.

Bruce’s side welcome his former club Manchester United to the KC Stadium on Sunday needing a win, while hoping Newcastle United fail to beat West Ham.

Allardyce has given his players an extended break ahead of a crunch clash for the hosts at St James’ Park, but Bruce is not worried by that and insists he has not tried to influence his fellow manager’s preparations. 

“That’s his [Allardyce’s] prerogative,” Bruce said. “It can work for you and it can work against you.

“What Sam does with his team is his business. Knowing Sam the way I do, whoever he’s playing he’ll want to win the game. The Barclays Premier League is like that.

“I’m sure West Ham will try and get a result. I spoke to him [Allardyce] last week, but I didn’t really mention that game. I speak to him every other week, but not this week.”

Hull were FA Cup finalists last year and had a shot at qualifying for this season’s UEFA Europa League, but now a very different entry could be made into the club’s record books – relegation from the top flight.

Bruce added: “You don’t want that on your CV, whether you’re a player, manager or coach.

“You have to live with it and if that happens you have to get on with it and bounce back, especially if you’re the manager.” 

If Hull are to survive, Bruce will have to bring a halt to his 21-match winless run against United as a manager.