We look at prospects of staying in Premier League for nine clubs stuck in relegation dogfight
WITH just a handful of games left, there are still nine teams battling relegation — and the financial doom that often accompanies it.
WITH only a collapse of monumental proportions standing in the way of Liverpool being crowned Barclays Premier League champions, the focus now turns to the other end of the ladder.
With just a handful of games left, there are still nine teams battling relegation and there’s sure to be plenty of sleepless nights for managers, players, and more importantly … the fans.
West Ham, Swansea, Hull, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Norwich, Cardiff City, Fulham and Sunderland. Three of these sides won’t be in the EPL next season.
Former Socceroo Robbie Slater was an EPL winner with Blackburn in 1995, but was also part of a tense relegation battle with Southampton, as he helped the Saints survive by a single point.
Now working as a pundit for Fox Sports, Slater explains the roller-coaster of emotions that comes with flirting with the dreaded drop.
“It’s all thrilling for us from the sidelines — but let me tell you first hand, this is the worst time of year for a player,” he told foxsports.com.au
“It’s exciting. It’s horrible. It’s an extraordinary time.
The risks are huge — the financial hit has brought clubs to their knees before, and there’s no guarantee of a swift return to the top flight — but the rewards are even greater, according to Slater.
“I won a premiership with Blackburn Rovers two years before — and it was the same type of emotion. Nearly as good,” he said.
“It’s a tremendous feeling when you escape. It truly marks you, and when you get through it, it gives you immense belief. It lives with you.”
So onto this season and normally by mid-April one team has written themselves off, but not this time.
Anything can still happen and this weekend will have a huge bearing on who we say goodbye to, with no less than five relegation six-pointers to take place.
Read our club-by-club relegation guide below.
WEST HAM — 37 points
Fixtures to come: West Brom, Spurs, Man City
With 37 points to their name, the Hammers can almost taste survival. The magical mark of 40 points is usually enough to ensure survival, and a win this weekend would see the Hammers achieve that.
The club’s owners stuck with manager Sam Allardyce despite a horrible start to the season that saw them in real trouble, but their faith has paid off, with four wins in a row in February — three against fellow stragglers — looking like getting the Hammers past the line.
Danger Rating: 2/5
SWANSEA CITY — 36 points
Fixtures to come: Villa, Southampton, Sunderland
The Swans are another side who look to have done just enough, but after finishing ninth last season, it’s been a hugely disappointing season for the Welsh outfit in their third season since being promoted in 2011.
Last weekend’s win over Newcastle edged Swansea closer to its goal, but Aston Villa will be desperate to drag the Swans back into the mire when the two meet this weekend.
Danger Rating: 2/5
WEEKEND RELEGATION SIX-POINTERS
Sunderland v Cardiff, Sun 9.10pm (EST), Fox Sports 2HD
West Bromwich Albion v West Ham, Sun 12am, Fox Sports 3HD
Fulham v Hull, Sun 12am, Fox Sports 1HD
Swansea v Aston Villa Sun 12am, Viewer’s Choice
HULL CITY — 36 points
Fixtures to come: Fulham, Villa, Man United, Everton
If dealing with the pressure of relegation isn’t enough, Hull City has the added distraction of a magical FA Cup run.
The Tigers will meet Arsenal in the final next month at Wembley Stadium, but can’t afford to avert their attention from the league until safety is secured.
Hull’s Cup run means it has a game in hand on rivals but will Steve Bruce’s side be able to capitalise on that and stay up after being promoted at the beginning of the season?
Danger Rating: 2/5
ASTON VILLA — 35 points
Fixtures to come: Swansea, Hull, Man City, Spurs
Aston Villa didn’t learn from its mistakes last season. After flirting with the drop for the majority of the campaign, the Villains finally got their act together late on to stay up.
12 months later and Villa fans are going through the same emotions, with the club hovering just five points outside the drop zone, leading to intense pressure on manager Paul Lambert.
Like this weekend’s opponent, Swansea — an established Premier League outfit with plenty of talent — the Villains should be a top-half club, not relegation strugglers.
Danger Rating: 3/5
WEST BROMWICH ALBION — 33 points
Fixtures to come: West Ham, Arsenal, Sunderland, Stoke
Manager Pepe Mel — a curious choice when he was hired from Spain — is talking tough at the Baggies, insisting it is “impossible” his side will be relegated.
Words are one thing, but with games against Arsenal and fellow relegation candidates West Ham and Sunderland still to come, Mel shouldn’t count his chickens before they hatch.
Danger Rating: 3/5
NOWICH CITY — 32 points
Fixtures to come: Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal
Monday’s tight loss to Liverpool was hard to swallow for Norwich, but they’ve got no time to lick their wounds, with their run home enough to clip any fan’s wings.
Norwich is just two points outside the drop zone, meaning it will need to win at least one, or draw all three, to give itself a fighting chance.
Danger Rating: 5/5
CARDIFF CITY — 30 points
Fixtures to come: Sunderland Newcastle, Chelsea
The Bluebirds are demanding their defeat to Crystal Palace in April be overturned, alleging Palace illegally obtained their starting line-up days before the match.
It seems unlikely the Welsh side will get anything from that, meaning they’ll need to get the job done on the field.
Like every relegation battle, the margins are fine, but anything other than a win this weekend against rock-bottom Sunderland and the Welsh side’s return to the top flight looks like it will only have lasted a season.
Danger Rating: 5/5
FULHAM — 30 points
Fixtures to come: Hull, Stoke, Crystal Palace
Is Craven Cottage about to come crashing down?
Fulham was promoted to the top tier in 2001-2001, and have been there ever since, but it will take a miracle if we see them in the Premier League next season.
They are a point ahead of Sunderland, but the Black Cats have a game in hand. Don’t discount the importance of goal difference either. Fulham’s -42 is the worst in the league by far, and could come back to bite Felix Magath.
Danger rating: 5/5
SUNDERLAND — 29 points
Fixtures to come: Cardiff, Man United, West Brom, Swansea
Whatever happens in the relegation battle, Sunderland will be central to it.
Three of their last four games are against those around them — Cardiff, WBA and Swansea.
The Black Cats are breathing easier though, with four points picked up against title contenders Manchester City and Chelsea in the past week. The only people more happy with that than Sunderland fans are Liverpool supporters.
Gus Poyet’s side has left its mark at the top, now let’s see what they do down the bottom.
Danger rating: 5/5