David Gold admits there has to be a massive improvement in the team performance from the Manchester United defeat if the Irons are to grab a result over Hull City.

The inability to come away from Stoke City and Everton with a point and the home defeat by Manchester United have set alarm bells ringing as loudly as at any time this season around the Boleyn.

Co-owner Gold sees the Hull game as immense and finds it ironic that his former Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce is back and looking to put nails into the Londoners’ coffin.

He said: “We were poor against Manchester United. It didn’t happen at all and we have to put in a real performance.

“It was not good to watch. It was all incredibly disappointing and we now have to really get on the front foot. Yes it’s probably fair to describe it as a must win because we have to get safe as rapidly as possible.

“To have come away from Stoke and Everton without anything at all really put us under more pressure because Manchester United was always going to be a bonus game.

“I think the best way of expressing my feelings is to say that I’m disappointed but not disheartened. We showed during that great February run what we’re capable of and decent teams don’t become bad teams overnight!

“Steve has done a very good job at Hull and he seems to have mellowed and calmed with experience. We had some good years together but there are no friendships during this 90 minutes.”