The Premier League relegation battle is the closest in living memory and is unlikely to be decided until the very last kick of the season. We look at all the contenders for the drop and which three will eventually fall through the trap door….

Wigan
Saturday’s win over Birmingham was imperative for Latics survival hopes, but it still looks like a tough ask for them to stay afloat. Roberto Martinez’s men are capable of beating anyone on their day but inconsistency is likely to cost them.
April’s clash at Blackpool is crucial, but Wigan (4/11 to be relegated) also face away dates at Chelsea, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke.

Birmingham
The Carling Cup winners are in real danger of dropping out of the top flight, highlighted by their last gasp defeat to Wigan. Alex McLeish’s squad have dropped into the bottom three and although they have a game in hand, Blues still have to go to the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs.
A lack of goals is the real concern for Birmingham (6/4 for the drop), who are the lowest scorers in the division with just 28 goals. They have not managed to score more than one goal in their last six league games.

Wolves
Wanderers are the in-form team in the bottom half, currently on a four-game unbeaten run, and have shown they are capable of getting out of trouble. Mick McCarthy’s team are better than their position suggests and with four winnable home games – against Everton, Fulham, West Brom and Blackburn – look a decent bet to survive.
Wolves (4/9 to stay up) are also getting key players back from injury, with Stephen Hunt, Michael Kightly and Michael Mancienne close to returns.

West Ham
Having looked doomed a couple of months ago, the Hammers now look strong enough to complete the great escape. Avram Grant has somehow retained his job and the return to fitness of Thomas Hitzlsperger has dug him out of a hole, while the additions of Gary O’Neil and Demba Ba have proved to be shrewd signings.
West Ham (4/9 to stay up) still have to face three of the top four in their final eight games, but their renewed confidence should keep them up.

West Brom
Roy Hodgson’s experience in the battle to avoid the drop could prove crucial in Albion’s fight for survival. Already under the ex-Fulham chief, West Brom have drawn three and won one of the four matches under his stewardship.
The Baggies (13/8 to be relegated) hopes of avoiding another immediate return to the Championship could hinge on two crunch Midlands derbies – against Villa and Wolves.

Blackpool
Virtually every neutral wants the Tangerines to stay up after their entertaining football and attacking ethos this season. Goals, goals, goals has been the ploy for Ian Holloway and it may prove crucial if they prove everyone wrong and survive.
Their home form is a slight concern, with just four wins at Bloomfield Road, but if key players remain fit – Charlie Adam, Luke Varney and Gary Taylor-Fletcher – Blackpool (13/10 to be relegated) can defy the pundits.

Aston Villa
Gerard Houllier is under the most pressure of any manager in the bottom half and he has to hope that doesn’t transfer to his players in the final eight games. As much as people hate this comment….Villa are too good to go down, although it does sometimes happen when a big club suffers a huge fall from grace.
The Villans will rely heavily on the goals of Darren Bent to keep them up but imagine the back pages if Houllier needs a win against his former club Liverpool on the final day in order to stay up.

Blackburn
Rovers fans are quite really concerned by their alarming form in 2011, with the Ewood club winning just one of their last nine league games. Blackburn have still got to play Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City and their fate may go down to the wire and their last game at Wolves.
The one factor that could push Rovers (2/1 to be relegated) over the edge is the man at the helm, with Steve Kean the only rookie manager involved in the relegation battle.

Fulham
The Cottagers have a three-point cushion between themselves and the relegation zone and that should be enough to clinch their top-flight status. Fulham’s home record will prove the difference, with just three defeats at Craven Cottage this season to date, although their last two home games of the season are against Liverpool and Arsenal.
With key players returning in recent weeks, don’t be surprised to see Mark Hughes’ men (16/1 to be relegated) finish the season in the top half.

Newcastle
The saving grace for the Magpies is that there are so many teams between them and the bottom three, and that could see them survive. A lack of striking options is the major concern for the Toon Army and Saturday’s 4-0 thumping at Stoke proved it will be a nail-biting end to the season for the fans.
Four points might not seem a lot, but home form is the key to Newcastle (16/1 to go down) survival – with St James’ Park matches against fellow strugglers Wolves, Birmingham and West Brom to come. Four of their remaining seven matches are away from Tyneside.

Prediction: Wigan, Birmingham and Blackburn to be relegated

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