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Hull all are but relegated after a home defeat by Sunderland in which Jimmy Bullard missed a first-half penalty.Darren Bent turned in a header from Kenwyne Jones at the far post to give the visitors an early lead.
Bullard's penalty struck the outside of the post before Hull's Jozy Altidore and Sunderland's Alan Hutton were dismissed for a touchline spat.
Hull failed to muster a clear opening in the second half and West Ham's win over Wigan leaves them facing the drop.
If the Tigers win both their remaining games, they could still match West Ham's points total but their vastly inferior goal difference means they are effectively down.
And the future looks bleak for the club after chairman Adam Pearson claimed in the build-up to the match that relegation would be a "doomsday scenario" for the club.
Pearson was critical of his predecessor Paul Duffen for allowing the club's wage bill to spiral and expressed serious concerns about their financial plight in the Championship.
In truth it was a dismal performance from the home side, who enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half but lacked any craft or imagination and were restricted to shots from distance.
Sunderland made a bright start to the game and should have taken the lead inside five minutes when Jordan Henderson pulled the ball back for Steed Malbranque, who fired wastefully over the bar from close range.
Two minutes later, the visitors were ahead as Jones met Hutton's cross with a far-post header and Bent was on hand to tap home his 25th goal of the season from close range.
The same players combined again as a low cross from Jones found Bent in space but the striker, who still harbours hopes of maing England's World Cup squad, drilled his half-volley wide.
After struggling for fluency in the early stages, Hull began to find their feet and came close to equalizing when Nick Barmby's cut-back struck Turner and flew into the side netting with Craig Gordon wrong-footed.
Midway through the half, Anthony Gardner rose to head Bullard's corner towards goal and Gordon saved it with his chest.
A brisk counter-attack from the home side provided their next opportunity as Caleb Folan's shot deflected off Alan Hutton, forcing Gordon into a sharp one-handed save.
Then came the moment that could have changed the complexion of the game. Former Hull defender Turner upended Geovanni in the box, winning a penalty for the home side.
But Bullard, who had scored all four of his previous spot-kick's for the club, dragged his effort onto the outside of the post.
The plot took another twist in first-half stoppage time when Altidore and Hutton clashed on the touchline. Hutton picked the ball up and threw it gently against Altidore, who rose to his feet and charged into the Scot with his head.
Referee Lee Probert brandished the red card at Altidore while Hutton received treatment for a facial injury. But when the former Spurs defender got up, he was also dismissed to the obvious fury of Sunderland boss Steve Bruce.
Hull dominated the start of the second half without really threatening to score. Their desperation for an equaliser was illustrated in an obvious dive by Geovanni in the box, which earned him a yellow card.
Sunderland captain Lorik Cana came off the bench midway through the half and fired a long-range shot which was tipped around the post by Matt Duke at full stretch.
Moments later, Andy Dawson tried his luck from a similar distance and his deflected shot was parried by Gordon.
Bruce, seemingly still angered by Hutton's sending off, repeatedly vented his spleen at the fourth official and was eventually sent to the stands by referee.
Hull showed plenty of spirit but very little creativity at the game petered out, with Bernard Mendy's shot straight at Gordon the closest they came to scoring.
Hull's fans applauded their players from the field, and many were in tears as the reality that their two-year stay in the Premier League has come to an end began to sink in.
Sunderland01 Gordon04 Turner (Ferdinand 46)06 Hutton red card27 Kilgallon08 Malbranque (Bardsley 46)10 Richardson16 Henderson yellow card18 Meyler yellow card09 Campbell yellow card11 Bent17 Jones (Cana 60)Substitutes24 Carson,02 Bardsley,05 Ferdinand,22 Da Silva,07 Zenden,19 Cana,28 MwaruwariRef: ProbertAtt: 25,012SUNDERLANDPossessionHull 56%Sunderland 44%Attempts on targetHull 8Sunderland 5Attempts off targetHull 6Sunderland 5CornersHull 3Sunderland 6FoulsHull 12Sunderland 17
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