The Relegation Battle

This season, the relegation battle could also be called the Barclays Premier League. With only 33 points separating the top spot from the dungeon, it is shaping up to be the tightest relegation battle in Premier League history.

Sunderland, currently sitting in 8th position, are incredibly only 7 points from the drop zone. Pundits are confident that Steve Bruce's men will survive, and rightly so. With their ability to keep clean sheets, particularly at the Stadium of Light, they are looking like recording their highest Premier League finish to date. It is not only the defence which has proved a success this season, the introduction of Ghanian striker Assamoah Gyan has proved to be an inspired piece of business, with the 25 year old finding the net 9 times in 25 league appearances, 11 of those coming on from the bench. With the departure of Darren Bent earlier in the season, it was well publicized that the Black Cats would struggle to find winning ways, and despite only picking up 1 point from their previous 3 league games, Sunderland are still in 8th position. Danny Wellbeck returning to action against Arsenal last time out will provide the confidence for Steve Bruce's side to make it to finish line, and book their place in the Premier League for next term. My prediction, a top 10 finish for the Northeast Club, and well deserved at that.

In 9th position sit Everton, a side which boasts experience from the likes of Distin and Neville, the class and coolness of Mikel Arteta and the young excitable talents of Baines and Rodwell, surely Everton will avoid a relegation battle. Sadly for Everton their survival is not set in stone, with several first team stars currently occupying the treatment room, Mikel Arteta has sadly joined them. Arteta suffered a hamstring injury just 10 minutes into the mid-week game against Birmingham. Arteta was captaining the side in the absence of veteran Phil Neville, who also is out, along with Marouanne Fellaini and Time Cahill. With a growing list of the walking wounded, and fixtures against 6 other teams hoping to avoid the drop, as well as playing 3 of the top 4, Everton's youngsters are going to have to grow up fast. Chelsea visit Goodison Park on the closing day of the season, Everton will want to make sure they are safe before then. My prediction, a bottom half survival for Moyes' Toffees.

Newcastle sit below Everton in 10th position. Despite the departure of rising star and England striker Andy Carrol in the January Transfer Window, he remains the top goal scorer at the club with 11 goals. This is no surprise as it was well know that the Toon Army relied so heavily on the goal scoring prowess of the pony tailed giant. However, Pardew's men rose to the challenge of life at St.James' without Carrol, and they went about their business. An exciting 4-4 draw with Arsenal on the 5th February instilled the confidence in the fans that they still had what it takes to compete at this level. Since that thrilling encounter, Newcastle have picked up 6 points from their last 5 games, this doesn't sound too impressive, but in a division where points can be won or lost in the flick of a switch, these 6 points are extremely valuable. With the potential return of Hatem Ben Arfa before the end of the season, and the impressive form of new fan favourites Tiote, Collicini and Best, I think Newcastle will handle themselves just fine in the tough run in. My prediction, safety before the last day of the season.

Fulham are a interesting side to read about this season. They occupy the 11th spot, just 4 points from safety and with a string of tough games in the pipeline. With this in mind I think it is about time that Mark Hughes stopped crying about handshakes with certain managers at the full time whistle, and started focusing on more important matters, such as football. Hughes may feel like a victim of goodness knows what after playground spats with the whole of Manchester City and Stoke City's Tony Pulis, but it is his team that could fall victim to this season's relegation battle if matters don't turn to the pitch. Having said that, Fulham have only lost twice since the turn of the new year, and this suggests that they are finding form at the right time. Being so close to the drop zone, it is important that Hughes can continue to get the best from his men, notable fixtures against Blackpool and Wolves are must win games for the Cottagers, anything else they can get from games with Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal would be considered a bonus. Arsenal visit the Cottage on the last day of the season, I hope Mark Hughes has more than a meaningful handshake on the agenda when the 22nd May rolls round. My prediction, survival, but by a very narrow margin.

Sitting below Fulham in 12th position is Mark Hughes's best mate Tony Pulis. Pulis' Stoke City find themselves in this position simply because their giant German Centre Back has scored more goals than anyone else for Stoke this term, with 7. It seems that the Premier League finally figured out how to deal with the long thrown ins from Rory Delap which for a long time, was the Potterer's most dangerous weapon. Having said that, it is thought that if Kenwyn Jones keep himself fit and if he can find some consistent form, then he could develop into a top class striker, sadly for Stoke, this could prove to be one too many 'if's'. With fixtures against fellow relegation candidates West Ham, Wolves, Blackpool, Aston Villa and Wigan, their destiny is well and truly in their own hands. With the added motivation for Pulis to finish above his old pal Mark Hughes, they should be able to cling on to top flight status. My prediction, an optimistic top 10 finish.

From Stoke to Aston Villa, who are staring down the barrel of relegation. Just why Darren Bent left Sunderland to play in Birmingham has left pundits bemused. Why pundits are bemused quite frankly bemuses me. It was because of money. This isn't the first time we have seen key players leave clubs to better their bank balances, and to be fair, we could all do with an extra £10k a week, couldn't we? Bent's bank balance might be looking healthier, but his sides status as a Premier League outfit isn't. Despite the likes of Ashley Young and Mark Albrighton giving 100% week in, week out, it seems the rest of the Villa Park squad are not able to do this. With an aging goal keeper, and an England midfielder currently more occupied about the whereabouts of almost £700,000 which he is accusing a former agent of defrauding him of, Premier League survival is looking bleak. Manager Houllier doesn't appear anymore confident than myself in their ability to survive and compete at the top flight, recently having publicly claimed his side were not good enough to beat Manchester City which is why he played a weakened side in the FA Cup match, confidence is at an all time low. Should Villa fail to survive, this would surely be the biggest club to take the plunge from the Premier League since the likes of Manchester City themselves, all those years ago. Thankfully for Villa, they only have to play 3 teams from the top half of the table before the end of the season. My prediction, a narrow, a very narrow escape.

Blackburn sit 14th and with only picking up 1 point from their last 5 games, to say things are looking unstable would be an understatement. Steve Kean's job as manager of the former Premier League Champions is looking more and more at threat every day. Will he be sacked, wont he be sacked, nobody seems to know. What we do know though, is that making such a decision at this stage of the season rarely achieves success. In most recent years, Alan Shearer was handed the job of keeping Newcastle in the top flight, and we all know how that one ended. Surely such a dramatic change at this stage of the season is too much for a struggling team to take. Surely the owners need to ask themselves who else is available to do a better job, Sam Allardyce I hear your say, I don't think the Rovers owners has big enough balls to consider it. I fear for Blackburn, with games against Man City, Arsenal and Manchester United still to come, and no signs of improvement or motivation, I can't see where their next clean shirts are coming from, never mind their next clean sheet. My prediction, survival, but should they survive, I don't expect to see Rovers fans applauding come the last day of the season.

15th in the division is Blackpool. And what a delight it has been having them in the league this season. Ian Holloways interviews and comments have kept us all entertained whilst watching Match of the Day and reading the weekend papers. Unfortunately for Holloway and the seasiders, a GSOH isn't enough to keep his side in the top flight. Having recently admitted that the Tangerines substitued the wrong player due to a handful of players names sounding the same, we can't help but think that a bit more focus and professionalism would go a long way. To say Charlie Adam has carried Blackpool this season, wouldn't be fair, to Charlie Adam, he looks a player capable of carrying a team much higher than where Blackpool find themselves now. Having recently been battered by relegation strugglers Wolves 4-0, it really does look like it's time for Adam to find a new club, with Tottenham and Liverpool hot favourites to scoop the Blackpool captain. I may be thinking with my heart and not my head here, but, my prediction, survival.

West Brom occupy the 16th position, and the way they have played this season, they should be delighted. The Baggies have displayed some of the worst football of the campaign, having said that, new manager Roy Hodgson seems to have improved this. Picking up 5 points from their last 3 games and 4 of those points coming from teams directly around them, things look to be improving. Roy Hodgson has recently confirmed that he is to keep the back room staff he inherited from the previous manager, which surely instills some stability and all the focus at the club can now be on the football. West Brom have struggled to keep clean sheets this year, and I should know, as I stupidly played Scott Carson for the majority of the season in my Fantasy Football team. This surely is Hodgson's priority, stop the leak. You cannot lose games if you do not concede. Sadly for West Brom, their run in doesn't look kind, with fixtures against Arsenal, Liverpool, Sunderland, Chelsea, Tottenham, Villa, Wolves, Everton and Newcastle, I can see nothing but Championship football for Hodgson's men next season. My prediction, relegation.

Birmingham sit below West Brom, and they sit in 17th place due a one goal advantage on goal difference over West Ham. Having not won a league game since the 12th February, perhaps preoccupied with the domestic cup campaigns, Birmingham need to re-focus. This weekend saw them dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of Bolton, which could be a blessing in disguise. Their only goal this season is to survive, and with a game in hand over the teams around them, McLeish needs his men to show the passion they displayed in the Carling Cup, and tranfer that desire to win into their survival campaign. Congratulations to the Blues for the success at in the Carling Cup, however I fear this will be forgotten should they take the drop. My prediction, survival, the game in hand is valuable and capturing the Carling Cup shows they can play.

So now we enter the relegation zone where West Ham, Wolves and Wigan have become part of the furniture. However I do not feel it is all over for one of these sides. West Ham over recent weeks have displayed their character, their belief and their commitment to the cause. None have displayed more commitment this term in the division than Scott Parker, a true professional. Parker runs himself into the ground every-time he pulls on the claret and blue shirt, and this inspires his team mates. Sitting 18th in the league, West Ham have picked up 10 points since their 2-2 draw with Everton in January. This has seen them climb from the foot of the division, to only sitting in the relegation zone on goal difference. If they can continue to display this character, then they will have earned the right to play in the top flight for another season. My prediction, premier league survival.

So with West Brom tipped for relegation, and only two teams remaining, it means that I predict Wigan and Wolves to take the plunge with the Baggies. For these teams, consistency hasn't been the problem, they have been consistently poor. It is their pure lack of ability which has got them in this position. Wolves at least, have shown good character, however a series of reckless tackles have perhaps identified that they more braun than brain. Still, what do we expect from a side managed from Mick McCarthy. They may well have achieved 5 points from their last three games, however this, for me, is too little, too late. They could still pull it out of the bag and survive in this division, however there are sides around them with a bit more class, coolness and ability. Character alone doesn't get very far.

Wigan Athletic.  Well, what can be said? The fact that checking their remaining fixtures feels like too much effort should speak volumes. Zero points from their last three games conceding 6 goals along the way, they are four points from safety with the worst goal difference in the top flight. I'm afraid all Wigan fans have to look forward to next season is a trip the Madjeski Stadium, which is nice.

So, with 9 matches remaining, I predict West Brom, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic are for the drop. With the league being so tight, it is very possible that perhaps Wolves and West Brom survive, and maybe Birmingham or Blackburn take the plunge in their place. However it plays out, it is shaping up to be the most exciting run in the Premier League had had to office since it started in 1992. I look forward to watching the drama unfold and seeing who shows the most determination over the coming weeks. Please let me know your thoughts on the relegation battle, who you think will fall victim and who you think will survive. Until next time, enjoy the match.