This weekend, Burnley were relegated despite a 1-0 win at Hull City and QPR were relegated after a 6-0 defeat at Manchester City. So with two down and one to go, who will fill the third spot and be relegated from the Premier League?
Hull City currently occupy the third relegation spot after Saturday’s defeat at home to Burnley, which leaves them on 34 points. Their remaining two fixtures are Tottenham Hotspur away, followed by Manchester United at home on the final day of the season. Looking at their last two games it’s hard to see where a win will come from.
Sunderland, who were third bottom going into Saturdays fixtures, are now sitting in 14th place on 36 points thanks to an excellent 2-0 victory at Everton and gaining 10 points from a possible 18 under the guidance of new head coach Dick Advocaat. Sunderland have three games remaining, Leicester City at home followed by two away fixtures at Arsenal and Chelsea. Sunderland supporters will be hoping that three points will come their way at home to Leicester City as trying to get points at The Emirates and Stamford Bridge will be extremely difficult. Sunderland did however win at Chelsea last season, so it’s not impossible.
Newcastle United are a club in free fall at the present. They did however halt their long losing streak with a home draw against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. They currently sit in 17th place on 36 points but currently have a worse goal difference then Sunderland. Their remaining two fixtures are away to already relegated QPR and at home to West Ham United. Magpies will be hoping that their self proclaimed “best coach in the Premier League”, John Carver, can come up with a plan to get points out of their remaining fixtures. Their recent run of form suggests it could be a tough end to the season.
Leicester City are currently the form team in the relegation battle, currently in 15th place with 37 points. It was not long since the Foxes seemed certain to go down, but an excellent run has seen them move quickly up the table. Remaining fixtures away at Sunderland and at home to QPR should see them get enough points to stay up. Obviously Sunderland supporters will be hoping those points come at home to QPR on the final day.
Aston Villa in 14th place on 38 points are the least likely to go down after a decent run of form since Tim Sherwood took charge earlier this year. However ,with two games still to go and four points from safety, they are still in the mix. Southampton away and already relegated Burnley in the last two games will provide tough tests, but they should have enough to get what is required to stay up.
Looking at the remaining fixtures and current form it seems that it could come down to a two horse race between Steve Bruce’s Hull City and John Carver’s Newcastle United as to who fills that third-from-bottom place. Nobody is safe yet though, and many twists and turns are expected and will happen. It should be an exciting watch for the neutral. For the supporters of these clubs however, amongst other things nerves will be battered, livers will take a beating and hearts will be in mouths. In the end though only one will be relegated. Who will it be?
