Our daily blog with the latest news, transfer rumours and gossip about Hull City in the Premier League.
WITH the FA Cup final just 19 days away, it's never too early to begin the mind-games ahead of the Wembley showpiece.
And Steve Bruce already wants to start cranking up the pressure on Arsenal ahead of next month's historic fixture.
The Gunners were easy 3-0 winners at the KC Stadium a few weeks ago in the Premier League, but when the two teams renew rivalries at Wembley on May 17, Bruce believes Arsene Wenger's men could crack under the pressure.
He told the Daily Mirror: "If their big players – Walcott, Wilshere, Ozil, Ramsey in particular, if they are all fit, they are a good side.
"But hey, they haven't won anything for nine years. It will be heaped on them and I'm starting now!"
What's your thoughts? Will the mind games affect Arsenal? Let us know in the comments below.Meyler backs Pardew to succeed at Toon
TIGERS midfielder David Meyler has put Alan Pardew's headbutt behind him – and believes the Newcastle boss has done a 'terrific job' with the Magpies.
The Newcastle boss clashed with Meyler on the touchline late on in last month's 4-1 win over City at the KC Stadium.
Pardew subsequently received a seven-match ban for his part in the incident and has come under increasing pressure following a five-game losing streak.
But Meyler has come to the defence of the Newcastle boss, and told the Daily Star: "People forgot Alan has done a terrific job at Newcastle since he replaced Chris Hughton.
"The last few games haven't gone too well for him but aside from that incident with me and getting beaten by Sunderland, he has done a good job this year.
"What happened with me was a minor incident as far as I am concerned.
"He is a grown man and knew what he was doing but he came up to me afterwards to apologise and that was the end of the issue from my perspective."City's shrewd striker business head and shoulders above restShane Long and Nikica Jelavic proved their worth to the Tigers cause with a goal each in Saturday's thrilling comeback at Fulham to seal a precious point in the Premier League.
And Independent columnist Glenn Moore says it is clear which manager made the best decision in the transfer window out of the Cottagers and the Tigers.
"In January Steve Bruce spent £14m on Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long, two strikers who had a track record in the British game. Fulham, as part of a seven-man transfer window splurge, spent £12m on Kostas Mitroglou, a regular scorer in Greece, but new to the Premier League.
"Two months later it is clear who made the better decision. After Jelavic and Long both scored at Craven Cottage on Saturday Hull City are all but safe, Fulham are staring into the abyss of relegation.
"Hull's new strikers have scored four goals apiece at a rate that would bring them a dozen each over a season. This is decent rather than prolific, but it has done the job for Hull, keeping them above the choppy waters of the drop zone."Write Tigers off at your peril
And finally, Fulham realised on Saturday afternoon what a threat the Tigers are, especially when going behind in crunch matches.
And sticking with The Independent, their 'Five things we learned from the Saturday fixtures' column says that struggling sides take Hull City lightly at their peril.
"The theory was that if Fulham were to stay up, Felix Magath's side would have to beat Hull City at Craven Cottage and, frankly, it didn't seem such a big ask.
"Steve Bruce's side were unlikely to overstretch themselves in the run-up to their forthcoming FA Cup Final appearance.
"This ignored the fact that, for a struggling team, coming across Hull is equivalent to skipping down a dark alley wearing a Rolex while holding a wad of £50 notes. It is likely to cost you.
"In their eight games against the bottom four, including Saturday's 2-2 draw, Hull have now taken 17 points; they will have contributed significantly to three relegations."Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
