Premier League survival race ; West Ham going.. going...
-
As the Premier League survival race hots up, it's officially squeaky bum time!
With eight games left, the once-magic 40-point survival mark is likely to be blown away in the most exciting relegation scrap for years.
Neil Moxley gives his verdicts on who will survive.
13th BLACKBURN 33pts
Without a win in six games and with a trip to Arsenal next, Rovers’ position is likely to worsen. Normally, their Ewood Park lets them rest easy but Saturday’s last gasp 2-2 draw, thanks to Junior Hoilett’s goal at home to Blackpool, shows how tough it will be and Manchester City are still to visit.
Three points at home to Birmingham on April 9 looks vital, as they finish with trips to West Ham and Wolves, sandwiching Manchester United at home. Rovers have been consistently inconsistent since Steve Kean took over.
Verdict: RELEGATION
Last-gasp: Junior Hoilett (centre) celebrates scoring Blackburn's equaliser against Blackpool
14th ASTON VILLA 33pts
Whenever Gerard Houllier’s side are discussed, the phrase ‘Too big to go down,’ inevitably follows. It is, of course, nonsense, asSaturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Wolves proved. Several players who have not fitted in with the new regime have left. Others, such as Stephen Warnock, have been cast aside. It all appears a gigantic mess.
But Villa Park remains a difficult venue to conquer and with Wigan Athletic and Stoke City to play at home, Houllier should just about see himself over the line. However, with Arsenal away and Liverpool at home to end the season, Villa’s odds will tumble if they are in trouble with two matches remaining.
Verdict: SURVIVAL
15th BLACKPOOL 33pts
Most neutrals will hope the Seasiders stay up for what they have contributed this season: Ian Holloway’s rantings, a devil-may-care attitude and Charlie Adam’s delicious left foot have been superb, with the Scot twice on target at Blackburn on Saturday.
After so few games at Bloomfield Road at the start of the season when the ground was being refurbished, five of their last eight are at home. Scoring has not been a problem, so Holloway should have enough firepower to see him over the line.
Verdict: SURVIVAL
Love-affair: Holloway is adored by Blackpool fans
16th WEST BROM 33pts
Saviour? Hodgson was brought in to keep the Baggies up
Clearly owner Jeremy Peace feared the worst when he sacked Roberto di Matteo. His successor Roy Hodgson tightened up a team that had conceded at least twice in each of the 10 games before he joined. Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Arsenal means he is still unbeaten.
The win at Birmingham two weeks ago helped and their goal threat should ensure survival. But if they lose the two derbies — home to Villa and at Wolves — they may still be in trouble.
Verdict: SURVIVAL
17th WEST HAM 32pts
Where would the Hammers be without Scott Parker? While Demba Ba and Thomas Hitzlsperger have been grabbing the headlines recently, the midfielder has been the driving force all season. He confirmed himself as a contender for Player Of The Year with another superb display in the 0-0 draw at Tottenham, helped by some remarkable goalkeeping from Robert Green.
Although the run-in looks tricky, West Ham have been picking up points against the big boys. As long as Parker stays fit the Hammers will be fine.
Verdict: SURVIVAL
18th WOLVES 32pts
Along with West Ham, they are the form team at the bottom — three wins, two draws and one defeat in the past six games. Saturday’s win at Villa, courtesy of a sweet Matt Jarvis volley, left them within sight of an escape.
The addition of Jamie O’Hara has improved Wolves’s potency and they face none of the top six in their last eight matches. But as Mick McCarthy points out, they have struggled against the teams around them.
Verdict: SURVIVAL
19th BIRMINGHAM 31pts
Alex McLeish could be the first manager since Norwich City’s Ken Brown in 1985 to win the League Cup and drop out of the top flight. The Blues are the lowest scorers in the league and have drawn 13 games, so Saturday’s 2-1 loss at Wigan was crushing after they took the lead.
Their game in hand is at Stamford Bridge and they have to go to Anfield, White Hart Lane and St James’ Park, so they will need points when Bolton, Sunderland, Fulham and Wolves come to St Andrew’s.
Verdict: RELEGATION
Bitter sweet: Alex McLeish (left) could taste relegation just months after winning the Carling Cup
20th WIGAN 30pts
Their poor goal difference means the Latics need one victory more than the rest to escape. Maynor Figueroa’s late winner at home to Birmingham on Saturday was vital but with just three games at the DW Stadium, their away form is key.
On a positive note, going into the final three games, Wigan have a good record at Villa and face West Ham in their last home game. They follow that with a trip to Stoke, who could have an eye on the FA Cup final.
Verdict: RELEGATION
-
Damn sad if Aston Villa drops.
-
I will stick out my neck by saying teams that will be relegated all start with W.
Wigan
Wolves
West Ham
-
there's just eight points separating bottom from ninth and teams around there like newcastle and sunderland are on a run of poor form too...
-
I just hope WH goes down and never come back... lol.
They are United's jinxed opponent... If they do go, I will say good riddance to them...
-
Blackburn can join them too... 3rd one still not sure who I like to see go yet... lol.
-
i see birmingham e performance not veri gd
west ham is improving
wigan hmm
for mi
18) blackpool
19) birmingham
20) wigan -
birmingham did very well last season.
they changed manager right?
-
Originally posted by dragg:
birmingham did very well last season.
they changed manager right?
No, they only changed their keeper. 
-
Scally its not teams with W, but B who will be relegated
Blackpool
Blackburn
Birmingham
-
I hate 3 of them to get relegated actually as they posses quality but the rule is cruel....
-
Originally posted by CKeer: No, they only changed their keeper.
same nationality but diff name -
Originally posted by Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1):
same nationality but diff nameI am very glad that Birmingham took Foster away from United. Haven't they see how calamity he was while playing for United?
-
Originally posted by CKeer:
I am very glad that Birmingham took Foster away from United. Haven't they see how calamity he was while playing for United?
but he is triving outside of OT.. same as Howards. maybe, not scaling the skies, but still dependable..
-
Originally posted by CKeer:
I am very glad that Birmingham took Foster away from United. Haven't they see how calamity he was while playing for United?
-
i think EPL quality is more even these days....normally the bottom team would get only 1 or 2 wins the whole season, maybe like 10-20 points throughout the campaign. This time, it seems no one deserves relegation. Even if any of the three do go down, they will surely be back again next season.
-
i think u r refering to derby county?
-
At all costs I want to see Aston Villa, Birmingham and Blackpool survive.
Should Blackburn drop, I sure would like to see what those nonsensical chicken farmers who own them have to say.
-
Originally posted by Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1):
i think u r refering to derby county?
plenty of them. I think bradford and preston fall into that cateogry. Maybe even oldham and southampton heh heh.
-
Originally posted by fudgester:
At all costs I want to see Aston Villa, Birmingham and Blackpool survive.
Should Blackburn drop, I sure would like to see what those nonsensical chicken farmers who own them have to say.
then let us just say that blackburn "chickened out" :)
-
Like this, then West Ham got hammered lah... lol.
Or...
Blackpool the Tangerines got juiced...
The Baggies sent packing...
The Wolves got slaughtered
And Aston Villa - Mad owner destroyed his Villa...
-
wah power....then about the blues suffered the blues (birmingham) while the latics were not athletic enough (wigan).
-
see
newcastle go down
but go up juz one season
middlesbrough leh?
dun knw y havent come back with that scot manager
that bought too much scots players
even bought boyd from rangers
now.... still the same
so i think e west ham would come back to epl if they are to relegated -
Newcastle can go straight up is mainly because they had a rich owner who didn't need to cut most of their players on premier league salaries and replace them with cheaper ones...
So in other words, they had a premier league squad playing in the championship... All they needed was an average manager to get them back... Cos they had quality players like Argentinian international Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez... And even seasoned premier league players like Joey Barton, Kevin Nolan, Alan Smith, Steven Taylor, Shola Ameobi to call upon.
They won promotion months before the league ended... lol.
On West Ham... Hard to say as they are not rich, their fans following isn't as big as Newcastle as well... Convincing their quality players to stay may be even harder too...
-
West Ham looks almost dead... Even winning their last 2 matches might not even save them now... So good bye WH, I hope you go down and stay there... lol.
Less one jinxed side fo United next season...