It’s been a rollercoaster ride at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League table, as some teams who once looked to be doomed are now just a single result away from safety. While there are some who have accelerated at the right time, there are a few sides who have dropped in confidence too, recently struggling to get a single win under their belts.
As it stands, Burnley, Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland consist the bottom three. Meanwhile, just above the red-zone, Leicester City can be found right at the edge of the cliff. They have climbed up the table dramatically in the last few weeks with 4 consecutive wins prior to the Chelsea defeat.
Aston Villa, though playing well under Tim Sherwood, still have it all to do to secure top flight football next season. Hull City looked like a club destined to go down, as key players got injured and the in-flow of points reduced even further. Steve Bruce’s men had arguably the toughest set of fixtures of any of the other teams in the league. They managed to win back-to-back games and have given themselves a brilliant chance of staying up. Newcastle United are a club in free-fall. Stand-in manager John Carver seems helpless with the quality he has in the squad, and fans’ protests against owner Mike Ashley are only making matters worse.
While all the managers of these teams would bite your hand off even if you offered survival on goal difference, the rat race will continue till the last minute in this fascinating Premier League season. Three of the LWOS writers – David Taylor, Phillip Atsrim and Gandharva Sharma- have their say on teams who they think will go down and join The Championship.
David’s Prediction (@Coach___Taylor)
BURNLEY
Burnley have given a good account of themselves this season in the Premier League. Despite being at the foot of the table, Sean Dyche’s team have produced some spirited-performances which has garnered them much plaudits this season. With the smallest budget in the league, their fans may not feel so hard done by their team’s performance as both the manager and playing body have given their all. To survive in the Premier League, you need to have a quality player who can produce moments of brilliance when the going gets tough and Burnley have not had that, with the arguable exception of Danny Ings. With three of their last four fixtures on the road, the Clarets’ fans are likely to see their team play their last Premier League in at least a year against Stoke. Burnley have lost ten of their sixteen games away from Turf Moor, winning only once, against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium. Both Hull and Aston Villa are not safe yet and will look to take maximum points against Burnley.
Predicted Finish: 20th
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
QPR have endured a frustrating season where they have lacked rhythm and consistency. They had a difficult start to the season, winning only one in their first eight games into the season. Much like their last campaign in the Premier League, the Rangers made quite a number of signings in the summer transfer window, but most of those players have struggled to find their feet. QPR have the worst defensive record in the league conceding 59 times so far this season. With an average age of 27.7, QPR have the fifth oldest squad and as such have struggled to deal with the pace of the Premier League. QPR have a relatively difficult run-in compared to the other teams in the relegation battle as they travel to Anfield and the Etihad Stadium in their next two games.
They will end their season with a bottom of the table clash against Leicester after hosting Newcastle at Loftus Road. QPR will be fortunate to get a result in their remaining fixtures and could be relegated before their match against Newcastle. Despite their struggles this season, Charlie Austin has been a revelation. The striker has scored 17 goals for QPR and has provided 4 assists in the league to date. Chris Ramsey’s most likely job next season will be to bring the West London club back to the Premier League, but he’ll have to do it without Austin, who will almost certainly sign for another Premier League side.
Predicted Finish: 19th
SUNDERLAND
Sunderland’s end to the season is difficult to predict considering Hull and West Brom have the trickiest opposition to face, but, I feel their time is up in the Premier League. Over the past two seasons, they have had Paolo Di Canio and Gus Poyet come in to guide them to safety but Dick Advocaat’s men do not seem to have enough to cross the line. The Black Cats have won just once in their last ten games, their only win coming thanks to a Jermain Defoe strike against rivals Newcastle. No team has scored fewer goals than Sunderland this season – Aston Villa, Burnley and Sunderland have scored 26 apiece. Sunderland host Southampton in their first of five ‘Cup Finals’ at the Stadium of Light this weekend. Southampton are currently eighth and are pushing for an Europa League spot and are favourites to pick up the win. The Black Cats will then have to face an in-form Everton, a resurgent Leicester City and the flying Arsenal in their next three games before ending their campaign against Chelsea. After eight consecutive seasons in the top flight, it looks like Sunderland are headed back for the Championship.
Predicted Finish: 18th
Sometimes, a change in manager can provide the needed boost as Crystal Palace, West Brom and Aston Villa experienced but it could cost you too (you could ask Newcastle and Sunderland fans). 13th placed West Brom are not entirely safe and neither of the teams below them are out of the relegation fight. With Chelsea set to claim the title this weekend with a victory over Crystal Palace, all eyes are now at the foot end of the table to see which teams will survive the dog fight.
Atsrim’s Predictions (@AtsrimPhilip)
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
QPR have been in the relegation mix since the beginning of the season and might be back playing in the Championship next season. Rangers have been poor and the attitude of the players in some of their games has been shameful. The club made some poor signings, players who were not hungry for anything were signed. Throughout the season, nothing has worked for them and in 19th spot with 27 points. Their upcoming run of games is Liverpool (away), Manchester City (away), Newcastle City (home) and Leicester City (away). Now QPR might need the maximum twelve points, or ten at the very least from their remaining games to stay up and it looks impossible. Chris Ramsey and his charges will have to do something different from what they are doing and find a solid display to avoid relegation.
Predicted Finish: 20th
BURNLEY
Burnley have been exciting, playing well to entertain their fans and cooking some shocking results. The problem with Burnley has been the fact that they play same way home and away. Sometimes it is important for teams to change style when away from home and be a little compact and make it difficult to breakdown. With their final four fixtures coming up against West Ham (away), Hull City (away), Stoke City (home) and Aston Villa (away), they can be said to have a manageable run of fixtures. Only a miracle will keep Burnley in the top flight judging from how poor results have been for them recently. Sometimes they have been just unlucky; in their last five games, only Swansea managed two goals against the Clarets; they lost by a goal to nil on three occasions and have recorded one goalless draw. The truth is, luck is part of the game. Their poor run of form makes every fixture difficult for them.
Predicted Finish: 19th
SUNDERLAND
The Black Cats have had an unimpressive season by all standard; they have lost three, drawn one and won one of their last five games, summing up their poor form. Sunderland are currently 18th in the table, just a point behind Leicester City. Considering the teams in the relegation battle with Sunderland and the points separating them, a first glance will give some hope to the Black Cats. However, a closer look at their last five fixtures leaves them with almost no hope, and you would wonder how they are going to gather the needed points to escape relegation. Dick Advocaat’s men will play Southampton (home), Everton (away), Leicester City (home), Arsenal (away) and Chelsea (home). Realistically, Sunderland might end up losing all their final round of games, but this is football and you cannot easily write off any team. The Black Cats survived a similar situation last season, and their fans will be keeping faith in the team to produce another massive escape.
Predicted Finish: 18th
Personally, I think it is going to be Burnley, Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers who will end up playing in the Championship next season. As I said earlier, this is football and miracles coupled with luck can happen, but these three teams will both in abundance to be part of the Premier League next season.
Gandharva’s Prediction (@RedDevil96Utd)
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Queens Park Rangers have seemed to be struggling of late, although Chris Ramsey has set the horrid away record under Harry Redknapp right. Despite the fact that Charlie Austin is a major threat in the front line, and that they face Newcastle United and Leicester City in their final few fixtures, I think they will come up short, still having to travel to Manchester City and Liverpool. The next two games look bad, and defeats in both could majorly damage any remaining confidence in the team. There only seems to be one way out, and that’s to beat underachieving Newcastle United at Loftus Road, and following it up with a last day win over Leicester City, who could also be fighting to stay in the Premier League.
Predicted Finish: 20th
SUNDERLAND
Since the departure of Gus Poyet, the results have not improved for Sunderland. Apart from a derby win over struggling Newcastle United, Dick Advocaat’s side have not picked up another win since the new manager’s arrival. Their remaining five fixtures do not make for good reading for Sunderland fans. Facing Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Southampton and in-form Leicester City was exactly what they would have loved to avoid; there are no obvious wins or even draws in that fixture list. They would have to create a huge upset in one of those games and beat Leicester City to have any chance. Sunderland do indeed have a game in hand, but it is against Arsenal at the Emirates. I can’t see them picking up enough points to keep them among the big boys.
Predicted Finish: 19th
BURNLEY
Burnley have had a hard season full of grafting, and it has recently looked like it has taken its toll. Up until March, we saw determined performances from a team that was often unchanged. The consistency in the team lineup has evidently made them tired and probably a bit weary. Their main threat, Danny Ings, has had a difficult month in April. With the goals drying up and the defence leaking goals, I can see them coming agonizingly close to survival. But just like their one-season stint a few years back, this will most likely turn out to be a similar outcome.
Predicted Finish: 18th
While teams like West Brom and Crystal Palace have lifted themselves well above the drop zone well in time, teams like Hull City, Aston Villa, Leicester City and Newcastle United are still looking above their shoulders. I believe a mere 34 points will be enough to guarantee survival this season. All that remains to be seen is who can rise up to the occasion on the last few match days and seal their top-flight spots.
