Tag Archives: relegation

Five-way relegation dogfight?

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The new Premier League season is just over a month away, with champions Manchester City the 5/4 favourites to retain their crown, but who will be preparing for the Championship in 12 months’ time?

Last season’s relegation battle was full of high drama on the final day as QPR gave City a real scare before Roberto Mancini’s Blues found a way to win the game and claim the Premier League for the first time.

City became the fifth club to have won the title since leagues were reorganised in 1992 – Manchester United, Arsenal, Blackburn and Chelsea are the others – but QPR still survived as Bolton could only draw at Stoke City.

The Trotters were joined by Blackburn Rovers and Wolves in dropping out of the top flight as all three promoted sides – Rangers, Norwich and Swansea – managed to survive.

New for 2012-13 are Southampton, Reading and West Ham, with the Hammers going up via the play-offs and, at 2/1, the shortest price of the trio to suffer relegation.

Saints are currently 5/4 shots while the Royals, who have secured new investment, are priced at 11/10 for the drop.

While it is no surprise to see Southampton and Reading the favourites for relegation, there must also be concern for a few of the Premier League clubs – some more established than others – with Wigan as short as 3/2.

Latics have flirted with the dreaded drop for years now but always seem to put a slow start behind them before powering away to safety once the weather starts to warm up again.

History suggests their luck will eventually run out one day and that time could well be nigh.

Saints have done what Norwich (13/8) did and come straight up from League One via the Championship in consecutive seasons and in Nigel Adkins they have a manager who can follow the Canaries’ blueprint.

However, the side from Norfolk paid the price for their success when boss Paul Lambert was tempted away to Aston Villa, who flirted with the drop themselves last term.

Norwich have turned to Chris Hughton and he represents a safe pair of hands for the Carrow Road faithful, with Villa’s relative lack of investment over the last couple of seasons meaning they are likely to be nearer the bottom three than the top four.

Swansea (2/1) are also in the same boat as Norwich and must hope Michael Laudrup hits the ground running given the fact the Danish legend never played in England during an illustrious playing career which took in the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

QPR are 9/2 for the drop but it must be remembered  they were tipped to stay up this time last year and only managed it by the skin of their teeth.

However, Mark Hughes has had more time to strengthen than Neil Warnock got last season given the timing of the Tony Fernandes takeover, and the Welshman has significantly made sure the spine of QPR’s team is now ready for more than just a survival battle.

IN DANGER: Southampton, Reading, Swansea, Wigan and Norwich.

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Nine in relegation battle

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The new Premier League 2011/12 football season is just around the corner – 39 days to be precise – and the runners and riders are all gearing up with the transfer market set to hot up between now and the end of August (Premier League 2011/12 – outright winner).

Six clubs are certain to retain their top-flight status at the end of the forthcoming campaign – Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham will not go down given their financial muscle – which leaves 16 other sides looking over their shoulders.

So 16 bosses will have survival as their first aim – and rightly so given the millions of pounds at stake – but we reckon five of them can relax and be safe in the knowledge they will not be a part of the relegation shake-up.

SUNDERLAND

Injuries and the sale of star striker Darren Bent to Aston Villa conspired to make the second half of last season a miserable one for Black Cats boss Steve Bruce.

Youngster Jordan Henderson has since joined Bent in leaving the Stadium of Light but Bruce has been active in the transfer market, reinvesting the cash raised on the likes of Connor Wickham, Seb Larsson, Craig Gardner and Ji Dong-won.

There will doubtless be more to follow which will be enough to keep Sunderland up for fifth consecutive season.

First game: Liverpool away

Relegation odds: 8/1

ASTON VILLA

Alex McLeish may well have taken Birmingham down last season but it appears he is well out of it at St Andrew’s given the arrest of owner Carson Yeung on money laundering charges in Hong Kong.

And while he has already lost Ashley Young to Manchester United already – and Stewart Downing looks set to go too – McLeish has guaranteed goals provided Bent stays fit.

The Villans badly under-achieved last season but their new boss will ensure the side does not rob the fans again this time around – although he is never likely to be the most popular Villa manager in their history.

First game: Fulham away

Relegation odds: 22/1

EVERTON

David Moyes has achieved miracles on a show-string budget at Goodison Park and although the days of cracking the top four may be a dim and distant memory, he’ll keep them clear of the trapdoor.

Moyes’ standing in the game will attract always players in the right price range and Jermaine Beckford will have come on greatly following his debut Premier League season.

But perhaps the biggest concern for Moyes will be keeping hold of the club’s youngsters like Jack Rodwell and internationals like Leighton Baines.

First game: Tottenham away

Relegation odds: 25/1

BOLTON

The third side with a Scottish boss and it is fair to say north of the border will still be well represented in the Premier League by the end of next season.

Owen Coyle’s rise has been meteoric after guiding Burnley to the promised land in 2009 before jumping ship to stabilise Bolton following the end of Gary Megson’s uninspiring reign.

Coyle has pulled off coups to land both Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge on loan in recent seasons and he will continue in that vein to give the Trotters fans another year in the top flight.

Opening game: QPR away

Relegation odds: 5/1

WEST BROM

A left-field choice, but the Baggies will continue to prosper under Roy Hodgson who almost secured a top-10 finish despite inheriting a struggling side in February.

Forget Hodgson’s Liverpool debacle and it is clear he is an extremely streetwise boss who did a fantastic job in guiding Fulham to the final of the Europa League.

He was also brave enough to realise that they could go no further and should not be judged on matters at Anfield given the club’s change of ownership and associated issues last term.

Opening game: Manchester United home

Relegation odds: 10/3

Nine left sweating: Blackburn, Fulham, Newcastle, Norwich, QPR, Stoke, Swansea, Wigan and Wolves.

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Relegation battle hotting up

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There are now just two games left for those clubs battling for survival to beat the drop from the Premier League. There is still much to play for so we will have a look at the the possible relegation scenarios ahead of the scrap to avoid the drop.

West Ham

It has been a woeful season at Upton Park and a tense end to the campaign has been made worse by comments from the co-owners but it is back to matters on the pitch on Sunday with a must-win clash with Wigan (West Ham 1/10 to be relegated).

The Hammers are currently bottom of the standings, with 33 points and they could be relegated this weekend if they fail to win and other results go against them.

Although Avram Grant’s men could mathematically catch both Blackburn and Birmingham, they would have to win their remaining two games and hope that the aforementioned pair fail to pick up a single point – unlikely.

And so Wolves are their realistic target if they are to stay in the top division, with a home encounter against Sunderland set to finish the season in east London.

It is not over yet for West Ham but, although two wins from their final two games is not out of the question, it has to be remembered that they have won just seven times all season.

Wigan

Latics are just above West Ham with 36 points and are in with a much better chance of beating the drop, as they travel to Stoke on the final day following the Hammers clash.

Roberto Martinez’s side have drawn too many games at home and won just four times at the DW Stadium and failed to build on the recent victory over fellow strugglers Blackpool.

But they secured an excellent point at Aston Villa on Saturday and will be full of confidence going into the West Ham game knowing that three points could be all they need to stay up.

A point on Sunday will ensure that a tense season goes right to the final game but defeat could spell the end of their stay in the top flight.

Their final game is a trip to the Britannia Stadium to face the Potters, who may have one eye on their holidays by then as they sit comfortably in mid table.

Blackpool

It seemed inconceivable that Blackpool would be embroiled in a survival battle after the first half of the season but the pre-season prophets of doom appear to have been correct as Ian Holloway’s men look in real trouble of making just a brief stay in the Premier League.

They are level on points with Wigan and have a winnable game against Bolton on the horizon.

However, they have reserved their hardest test right until the end of the season as they conclude proceedings with a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

It is true that the Red Devils will probably have won the title by the time the Tangerines come calling but professional pride means that Sir Alex Ferguson will likely play a decent side, even with the Champions League final on his mind.

Saturday’s derby with Bolton is, therefore, a must-win match-up but it does not look promising for the Premier League entertainers.

Wolves

Four points from their last two games has seen the Midlanders move out of the relegation zone and they sit on 37 points – just one more than Blackpool and Wigan.

But that could be significant, with nobody seemingly capable of winning a game at the foot of the table.

Mick McCarthy has always maintained that his charges would beat the drop and he may be proved right as they travel to the Stadium of Light at the weekend before welcoming Blackburn to Molineux for the final match of the campaign.

Sunderland are safe but have been in free-fall for a while and Steve Bruce’s side is currently decimated with injuries and so Wolves have a real chance of putting daylight between themselves and the bottom three.

They face Blackburn at home on the last day of the season and will be confident of getting the result that they need against a Rovers side who will probably still be looking over their shoulders (Wolves  1/2 to stay up).

Blackburn

Although Steve Kean’s men have 39 points and appear clear of the drop zone, they welcome Manchester United to Ewood Park this weekend and will probably still have 39 points on the final day.

It may be enough and, with a superior goal difference to both Blackpool and Wigan, they are in pole position to keep their top-flight spot.

But it has been a funny old season and they might well have to get something from their final clash with Wolves to make sure of avoiding the drop into the Championship.

Birmingham City

Blues have never quite been able to secure safety and the weekend defeat to Newcastle kept their fans sweating for another week.

Level on points with Blackburn, a win against Fulham would surely be enough to stave off the threat of relegation and they are more than capable of doing it, especially after the Cottagers 5-2 thrashing by Liverpool on Monday night.

If they do need a point on May 22, then what better than a trip to White Hart Lane to play a Spurs side that seem incapable of achieving any other result than a draw at present, and Alex McLeish’s men are looking good to stay in England’s top division for another season.

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Relegation fight tops the bill

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Relegation issues take centre stage in most of Saturday’s six Premier League games, with both West Ham and Wigan Athletic hoping to climb out of the bottom three.

The Hammers face Blackburn Rovers in a must-win clash at Upton Park, with the visitors still in danger themselves as they are only three points above the drop zone.

Avram Grant’s hosts are 5/6 to gain three points that are an absolute necessity if they are to have any realistic chance of escaping the drop, with Blackburn 3/1 to secure a victory that would ease their own relegation fears greatly.

The outcome could well hinge on whether key duo Scott Parker and Matthew Upson pass fitness tests to feature for the home side, with the former having been an inspiration for his side all season.

Wigan’s task looks a little harder on paper as they travel to improving Aston Villa, who have all but banished their own relegation fears in recent weeks.

Again injury problems could have a major bearing on the result at Villa Park, with winger Charles N’Zogbia (dead leg) still doubtful for the Latics, with his skill and trickery a crucial factor if Wigan are to head home with anything to show for their efforts.

However, they head to the West Midlands buoyed by the knowledge that they have not lost in five Premier League visits to Villa Park.

The Latics have conceded just one goal in those five games, so don’t write them off just yet and they are 16/5 to keep a clean sheet when it really matters.

Blackpool will take to the field against Spurs already aware of the results that West Ham and Wigan have gained earlier in the day and that could heap even more pressure on Ian Holloway’s misfiring side.

A run of four consecutive home games should have provided a platform for the Seasiders to move towards safety, but having taken just two points from those games, they now need to shine in much more difficult fixtures.

The trip to White Hart Lane doesn’t look very appealing for Pool, with the hosts still holding out hopes of a top-four finish and a return to the Champions league and the visitors are 8/1 to gain a shock victory and 4/1 to even manage to secure a point.

Birmingham City are not entirely safe and a trip to Newcastle United is nothing like the guaranteed three points which Alex McLeish’s side require to ensure top-flight survival.

Earlier this season the Magpies won 2-0 at St Andrew’s and Alan Pardew’s men have reached mid-table security since then, despite the January sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool.

They seem unlikely to give up three points without a fight and with the Blues having only scored 35 goals in 35 games this season, a draw, available at 9/4, looks like being the final result.

Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland meet at the Reebok Stadium in a match which has very little riding on it and given the Black Cats’ striker injury crisis, the home side should be confident of earning a win (Bolton 4/5, draw 5/2, Sunderland 16/5).

At Goodison Park Everton play host to Manchester City, who are now all but certain of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time.

However, the Toffees have been in fine form in recent weeks and have won six of their last seven meetings with the Citizens and are good value at 7/1 to win 1-0 this weekend.

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Rivals line up for relegation scrap

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Following the key Christmas and New Year period, the Premier League relegation scrap looks as tight as it’s ever been as we look ahead to what may lie ahead for the teams struggling at the wrong end of the top flight in the second half of the season.

In what looks like being one of the closest-fought battles to avoid the drop in years, just 10 points separates bottom club West Ham (8/13 to go down) and Bolton in seventh so, realistically, any three from 13 or 14 clubs could end up in the Championship next term.

And with the likes of Liverpool, Everton (33/1) and Aston Villa (4/1) on that list, could 2011 see a real shock with one of those three slipping into the second tier?

The Hammers appeared to have turned a corner following wins over Fulham and Wolves and a draw against Everton, but their 5-0 drubbing at the hands of rejuvenated Newcastle (9/1) has landed Avram Grant’s men right back in it.

Wolves were bottom ahead of Wednesday’s games but they have given themselves a huge lift with two wholly unexpected victories over Liverpool and Chelsea over the festive period to leave Mick McCarthy’s side in 17th but still level on points with Wigan and Aston Villa below them.

Gerard Houllier still apparently retains the backing of owner Randy Lerner at Villa Park but results have generally been dire since the Frenchman took over and the fans are growing restless as they view what appears to be a sinking ship under the former Liverpool boss’ tutelage.

Which brings us nicely on to the Reds. If Houllier is under pressure then Roy Hodgson must be suffocating with the weight of expectation and strain currently being felt at Anfield.

The dismal home defeat against Wolves was followed up by a morale-boosting win over Bolton on New Year’s Day, but that good work was swiftly undone by a shocking performance and 3-1 defeat at Blackburn on Wednesday.

Surely the experienced coach is on borrowed time? Now only a fine run of results will save him from the sack and, quite possibly, Liverpool from being caught up in their first-ever relegation scrap in the Premier League.

Everton’s 2-1 win over Spurs has given David Moyes’ side (33/1) a four-point cushion from the drop zone but the Blues’ inconsistency this season means they could easily get dragged into a dog fight come April as well, while West Brom (13/5), Fulham (7/2), Birmingham and Wigan (3/4) will need to call on all their experience of previous survival battles to ensure safety.

Blackpool (13/5) have been one of the stories of the campaign but a 2-1 reverse at home to Birmingham (3/1) last time out means Ian Holloway’s men are also just four points off the bottom three and they could yet get dragged into trouble despite their eye-catching performances and results in 2010.

So it’s shaping up to be a real battle for several sides hoping to retain their top-flight status over the coming months, while one or two of the so-called big boys may just be beginning to ponder the unthinkable.

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Hammers head relegation scrap

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Pressure continues to mount on Avram Grant, whose West Ham side are 4/9 favourites to be relegated as they sit nestled to the bottom of the Premier League table following Saturday’s defeat at home to Manchester City but who will end up slipping out of the top flight next May?

With just 12 points accumulated from 17 games – and with only four goals scored away from Upton Park this season – all signs point to the Championship for the Hammers at the minute and their next two fixtures are tricky away games to Blackburn and Fulham.

Rumours are rife that time is running out for Grant, who went to the East End this summer following Gianfranco Zola’s departure and newly-sacked ex-Newcastle boss Chris Hughton reported to be favourite to replace Grant if the axe does indeed fall.

New Toon boss Alan Pardew oversaw his first victory at St James’ Park at the weekend over Liverpool. However, with the dressing room angered by Hughton’s departure and widespread fan resentment of owner Mike Ashley, Pardew’s honeymoon may come to an abrupt end.

Pardew’s credentials in the top flight are not wholly desirable – he does not have too much Premier League managerial experience – and dark days could yet return to the newly-promoted Toon Army who are still 11/2 to be relegation.

Meanwhile, Wolves face an uphill struggle to stayout of the relegation zone, despite registering a much needed 1-0 victory over Birmingham at the weekend. Mick McCarthy’s side have already leaked 30 goals this season, the same number as West Ham, and look prime candidates for the drop unless they sort out their defensive frailties. (Wolves 3/4 to be relegated)

Wigan (7/10) and Fulham are both tied on 16 points above West Ham and Wolves and have talent. If Charles N’Zogbia continues his scintillating form, Roberto Martinez’s side will climb out of the relegation zone.

Wigan host Aston Villa next Saturday and then face a crunch game against relegation rivals Wolves the following weekend. Martinez would love to gain four points or more from those fixtures.

Fulham’s season (7/2 to go down) has started in stark contrast to life under former boss Roy Hodgson. Mark Hughes has had his work cut out since arriving at Craven Cottage and will be well aware of their precarious position above the drop zone.

Speaking after this weekend’s goalless draw with Sunderland, Hughes commented: “It only takes one win.”

However, with an away trip to Liverpool next weekend, this season’s draw masters will be targeting the Boxing Day fixture at home to West Ham as the win to turn their season around. Another draw in that fixture and Sparky Hughes may have to make some changes come January or risk being out of a job come May.

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