Afternoon all. So, we've reached a hugely crucial part of the Premier League season. Here, we will be covering two teams battling at the wrong end - Fulham and Hull City.

Before we discuss the ramifications of what each result could mean for these two clubs, the team news from Craven Cottage has just been released. Let's begin with a look at the hosts...

FULHAM XI: Stockdale; Heitinga, Hangeland, Amorebieta, Riise; Riether, Parker, Sidwell, Diarra, Holtby; Rodallega

FULHAM SUBS: Stekelenburg, Richardson, Kasami, Dejagah, Roberts, Bent, Woodrow

So, Felix Magath has opted to continue with Hugo Rodallega as a lone centre-forward, with Lewis Holtby operating in an advanced midfield role behind the Colombian. Elsewhere, Mahamadou Diarra has been included in the midfield alongside the experienced Scott Parker and Steve Sidwell. In goal, David Stockdale continues, with Maarten Steklenburg on the bench.

And now for visiting Hull...

HULL XI: Harper; Rosenior, Bruce, Davies, Chester; Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore, Elmohamady; Jelavic, Long

HULL SUBS: Jakupovic, Koren, Fryatt, Boyd, Sagbo, Aluko, Quinn

As expected, Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic will form Hull's striking partnership at Craven Cottage, while George Boyd has dropped out of the starting lineup. It appears that Bruce will start with a four-man defence, which includes his son Alex, with Ahmed Elmohamady on the right flank.

And here are some of those Hull players:

Right then, why is this game such a big one? Well, for Fulham, it's vitally important that they win. With three games left to play, they are two points from safety. A victory today would actually lift them out of the relegation zone at the expense of Norwich City, who take on Manchester United later on.

As for Hull, they are probably sweating a little at the moment. For weeks they have looked safe en route to reaching the final of the FA Cup. However, lose to Fulham and there will be just three points separating these teams. Relegation would still look unlikely, but it would be a cause for concern nonetheless.

So, what have the two managers been saying in the days leading up to this game? First up, Magath, who told reporters: "I'm convinced we will stay up if we win our home games. We don't only have home games, we have to try and win the away game too."

As for Bruce, he's hoping for a comfortable ending to the campaign: "The DNA of this club is not to do it the easy way. It's steeped in it. Let's hope we can do it this year and that it's our turn to make it a bit easy for ourselves by getting the result against Fulham."

HEAD TO HEAD: What do the previous meetings between these two sides tell us then? Well, of the 89 clashes, Fulham have won 29 and lost on 33 occasions. As for draws, there have been 27.

Some potentially bad news for Hull because their goalkeeper Steve Harper has taken a tumble during the warm-up. He has received some medical attention and is expected to start still, but it will be a concern for Bruce. No doubt Fulham will look to test him in the opening exchanges.

PREDICTION: Right, with not long to go until we get underway, let's have a stab at guessing the outcome of this clash. With the three points so vital to both, it could be a nervy afternoon in West London. Fulham certainly don't want a draw, but they could well get one today. Let's go for one goal apiece, with strikes from Rodallega and Long.

Here come the two sets of players. There's a really good atmosphere inside Craven Cottage - the supporters know how big this game is, that's for sure. Once the handshakes have been completed, we will be off and running.

KICKOFF! Hosting Fulham, attacking from left to right during the first half, get this important encounter underway.

Very little happening at Craven Cottage. Neither side wants to commit an error early on and as a result there is not much football being played. Too much long ball right now.

CHANCE! First sight of goal for Fulham and it's a decent opening. Rodallega does well to control a hopeful punt forward, before pulling the ball back to Riise on the edge of the area. The veteran full-back strikes the ball well enough, but the accuracy is lacking and the shot flies well wide of the target. Nevertheless, it's a positive sign for the hosts.

To be fair to Fulham, they are the only side that is showing any attacking intent. There isn't a lot of quality right now, but at least they are having a go. We've seen nothing of Long or Jelavic yet.

A big opening for the hosts as Amorebieta sends over a dangerous cross into the Hull area from the left. It looks for all the world that Rodallega has a simple finish, but he fails to make any contact with the ball whatsoever and the danger is eventually cleared. What an opening that was for the Colombian frontman, who has his head in his hands.

SAVE! First sighting of Jelavic and he really should have done better. The Hull frontman is all alone inside the area, but from 12 yards out, he plants a header straight at Stockdale.

BOOKING! Awful from Hull winger Elmohamady, who goes looking for a penalty as Amorebieta approached him. There was no contact at all, but he still threw himself to the ground in dramatic fashion. He's rightly booked, maybe referees should start dishing out red cards for such offences because nobody wants to see that.

BOOKING! Second caution for Hull and it's Jelavic that sees yellow for a late lunge on Riise. He tries to plead his innocence, but the replays show that he doesn't have much of a case.

All of a sudden after some Fulham pressure, this game has a real end of season feel to it. The hosts cannot afford to let that happen because they really need to win this.

Rodallega is cutting a forlorn figure up front right now for Fulham. He's having long passes pumped up to him, but he is often up against four defenders and is crowded out. As far as Hull are concerned, they are starting to control the match thanks to the composure on the ball of Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore.

Fulham are very disjointed - there isn't any other word to describe their showing over the last 20 minutes or so. It was just summed up as Amorebieta tried to control the ball with his head, only to misjudge the flight of the ball and head it straight out of play.

PENALTY APPEAL! Hull striker Long and his teammates want a penalty, but Lee Mason is not interested. Some referees would have given it because Amorebieta does nudge Long as he looked to get a shot away. Had he given the foul, Mason would have had to send off the Fulham defender because he was the last man.

BOOKING! Third booking of the match for Hull and he doesn't even bother challenging the decision because he was late on Rodallega.

There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

Having watched a lot of Premier League football this season, it's got to be said that the opening 45 minutes is up there as one of the worst all term! There is just a ripple of applause from the supporters as the referee blows for the break - some of them were probably asleep!

Starting with Fulham, they need to produce so much more. They have to win this encounter, but you wouldn't know it. After a relatively bright start, there has been no urgency about their play and the passing has been very, very sloppy. Rodallega up front needs help because he has no chance of getting the better of four big defenders. Much for Magath to ponder, that's for sure.

As for Hull, it hasn't been great, but then again it doesn't need to be - they would probably settle for a point. In terms of the performance, the passing has been crisp and quick, but they've struggled to get the likes of Jelavic and Long into the game on a regular basis.

So, what can Fulham change? He doesn't seem popular with Magath, but what about Darren Bent? He might not be the greatest footballer we've ever seen, but he knows where the net is and that is what the home side need right now!

RESTART! As Hull get us back underway, Fulham have made two alterations. No sign of Bent, but Dejagah and Richardson have been thrown on in place of Riise and Holtby. Moments later, Rodallega volleys over from 10 yards out.

The two Fulham changes have made a difference, it must be said. Both are getting much closer to Rodallega, which is giving Hull something extra to defend against. It needed to happen because it was far too easy for the away team.

SUBSTITUTION: And there is the final change of the contest for Fulham as Sidwell limps off. It's given a chance to Bent, but Fulham have used all three substitutes now. If they get an injury, they will be down to 10 men.

What a huge goal this could end up being! First of all credit should go to Magath for making the change, but referee Mason also deserves some praise. He could have blown for a foul following a trip on Rodallega, but he allowed play to continue as the ball rolled for Dejagah on the edge of the area. The winger steps inside to work it on to his left foot, before unleashing a curling effort into the top corner of Harper's net. That is some strike from the Fulham substitute.

For want of a better word, Fulham were awful during the first half. Yet, all of a sudden, they lead 2-0! It's a great header from Amorebieta, who gets across his marker to head Richardson's cross into the bottom corner of the net from 12 yards out. There's a great atmosphere inside Craven Cottage now - they believe that their team are staying up!

To be fair to Fulham, they are going for the jugular now. They aren't settling for two - they want a third goal! Dejagah and Richardson have made such an impact.

BOOKING! A yellow card goes to Diarra for his reaction to a challenge made by Huddlestone. To be honest, that should have been the other way around because it was the Hull midfielder that had committed the foul. Understandably, Diarra is a little confused as to why he was cautioned and Huddlestone wasn't.

SUBSTITUTION: Hull boss Bruce takes off his son Alex and brings on Sone Aluko. That's a positive change and a sign that Bruce believes that his team can still get something from this game.

Poor from Bent, who had a great opportunity to set up his strike partner Rodallega. All he had to do was roll the ball across the face of goal, but he strikes it too close to Harper, who collects with ease. What a waste.

And another half chance for Bent, but having got beyond the Hull defence, he delays his shot. That allows the visitors to retreat and snuff out the danger at the final moment.

How are the nerves, Fulham fans? Although they won't be laughing, it's a comical goal to concede. In sliding in to clear a through pass on the edge of his own area, Riether loops the ball up, before it crashes against his own crossbar. Stockdale is helpless inside his own net, but Jelavic is alert to head in the rebound from close range. Game on.

CROSSBAR! Almost another goal for Hull, but whereas the crossbar cost Fulham moments ago, it saved them this time. Aluko's shot from 25 yards out takes a wicked deflection, but with Stockdale well beaten, the ball cannons off the woodwork, before it's cleared to safety. Fulham fans will be watching through their fingers right now!

CHANCES! Fulham should have scored - twice! First it looks as though Dejagah has a simple finish, but Harper rushes out to deny him. Then, the rebound is curled goalwards by Bent, but with Harper well beaten, the ball creeps inches wide of the target. How Fulham need a third goal!

SUBSTITUTIONS: Two alterations for Hull as Boyd and Sagbo enter the action in place of Meyler and Rosenior.

POST! That Fulham goal is leading a charmed life right now! It's a great passing move from Hull which ends with Elmohamady shooting low from 10 yards out. A goal looked certain, but Stockdale somehow diverts it on to the post. Another escape.

And the Fulham fans slump in unison - they can't say it hasn't been coming. It's awful defending from the hosts as Long is allowed the space to move to the back post, before he diverts a downward header beyond the reach of Stockdale. What a nightmare for the home side, who need to win this. Moments later, Fulham have a penalty appeal for handball turned down.

Four extra minutes have been put up on the board. Are we going to have a winning goal?

Well, they've come away with a point, but it will feel like a defeat for Fulham. They've spurned a two-goal lead and with two games to go, are in the relegation zone. As for Hull, although not mathematically confirmed, they are all but safe after that comeback.

That is all we have time for from Craven Cottage. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.