London - Hull were left on the brink of relegation from the Premier League on Saturday as Leicester completed one of the great escapes to preserve their top-flight status.
With Burnley and QPR already demoted, Hull remained in the last drop spot after second-half goals from Nacer Chadli and Danny Rose secured a 2-0 victory for Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.
Defeat left Hull two points from safety and needing to beat Manchester United at the KC Stadium on the final day of the season a week on Sunday, with other results also having to go their way, in order to stay up.
Leicester, bottom of the table for 140 days, ensured they would be playing in the Premier League next term after a goalless draw with fellow strugglers Sunderland.
The Black Cats are now three points ahead of Hull but with an inferior goal difference.
They may need at least a point from their two remaining matches, against Arsenal in midweek and away to champions Chelsea next weekend, to beat the drop.
Newcastle, Sunderland's north-east rivals, were left just two points ahead of Hull after a 2-1 loss to QPR -- their ninth defeat in 10 games.
Aston Villa were thrashed 6-1 by Southampton, with Sadio Mane scoring the quickest hat-trick in Premier League history, but results elsewhere kept the Birmingham club in the top flight.
In north London, Chadli gave Spurs the lead in the 54th minute before Rose's volley seven minutes later condemned Hull to defeat.
"You can't come to Tottenham and create five or six good chances and not take one," Hull manager Steve Bruce told Sky Sports.
But Bruce, a former Manchester United captain, added: "We have to believe we can beat Manchester United next week. Is there one final twist? Can we upset the apple cart? Let's hope we can do it."
Newcastle went ahead against QPR when French forward Emmanuel Riviere scored with a scuffed shot in the 24th minute at Loftus Road.
But Matt Phillips equalised in the 54th minute before Leroy Fer's stunning 35-yard effort secured victory.
"Having lost, this is the best scenario with Hull losing," said Newcastle boss John Carver. "There's one game left and it's a do or die situation."
AFP
