The final weekend: the experts have their say
Published Date:
30 April 2008
IT'S the final weekend of the Football League season, with Hull City needing a win at Ipswich, coupled with a defeat for Stoke City at home to Leicester, to win automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Here, a former City manager, a fan and the Yorkshire Post's chief football writer, give their verdict.
Ex-manager: Terry Dolan (1991-1997)
Manager Phil Brown has put together a fine squad and there is no reason why they can't go up, even if it is via the play-offs. I would love to be at Ipswich but, unfortunately, I am working at Liverpool (v Manchester City as a referee's assessor).
But I will keep up to date with how it is going. I still live in the area and it would be wonderful to see the club get to the Premier League. Plus, it would be great for me as I could work at some of their home games next season!
Fan's view: Ray Teal, Hull
Automatic promotion is definitely still on. People see Stoke v Leicester as a foregone conclusion, but it is still a tough game. Leicester are fighting for their lives, knowing that if Southampton get a point on the last day they could go down. We have a tough game at Ipswich, but I would rate our chances of going up on Sunday as '60-40' in our favour.
If it ends up with us in the play-offs, I still think we can do it. We have shown we are capable of recovering from a setback.
Yorkshire Post Verdict: Richard Sutcliffe
On Sunday, Hull go into a final game with their fate undecided for the first time since 1983-84 when the club missed out on promotion from the Third Division. Will it be similar disappointment this time around?
Logic suggests so, with Stoke requiring a point and the Tigers needing to win at a ground where the hosts have lost just once all season.
Despite that, Hull look well equipped on form and ability to go on and win promotion at Wembley.
The full article contains 353 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
30 April 2008 10:21 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Yorkshire