Fears of falling

Though much emphasis and interest is directed toward the upper reaches of the Premier League table, matters at the opposite end of the spectrum have rarely been soporific in recent times. With the exception of last year, where Portsmouth, Hull City and Burnley all had their fate sealed before the season’s final curtain fell, relegation matters in England’s top league have long been rich in nail-biting tension and jaw-dropping excitement.

In 2005, West Bromwich Albion produced the greatest of escapes, securing survival on a final day where any one of four sides was in danger of the drop. The Baggies were bottom before their eventual 2-0 victory over Portsmouth kicked off, a win which also gave them the honour of being the first side to not suffer relegation after occupying the foot of the Premier League table on Christmas Day.

Two years later, controversy reigned supreme. West Ham, seemingly doomed in March, went to Old Trafford and defeated recently crowned champions Manchester United, aided in no small part by the illegally purchased Carlos Tevez. Meanwhile, Sheffield United were the fall guys, succumbing to a defeat at home to Wigan; the Latics themselves had been in the bottom three going into the final day. The whole affair still rankles in the Steel City. West Ham received a measly fine and remain in the Premier League to this day; Sheffield United have yet to return.

And who could forget the events of 2009? All three north-east teams entered their 38th games of the season in danger of dropping down to the Championship. Ultimately, despite a 2-3 home defeat to Chelsea, it was Sunderland and Wearside that celebrated long into the warm May evening.

Middlesbrough’s fate was finally sealed, but the big story came at Villa Park, where Alan Shearer’s short-lived reign as Newcastle United manager ended in disaster. The Magpies ended a season wrought with spectacular drama, even for them, with a 0-1 defeat in the Midlands, an own goal from Damien Duff condemning them to life outside the top league for the first time since 1993.

As things stand, this season looks set to once more offer a grand finale. Three points separate the bottom five sides. Indeed, only six points separate the bottom ten. With ten games remaining, who will fall through the trapdoor is anyone’s guess.Currently propping up the league are Roberto Martinez’s Wigan Athletic, following their 0-4 home loss against table-toppers Manchester United. In truth though, the scoreline flattered the Red Devils, and had a much-discussed Wayne Rooney incident seen a red card produced, the Latics may well have taken something from the game.

As it was, they were leapfrogged by both Wolves and West Ham, who each remain in the bottom three, having endured pretty torrid seasons thus far. The Hammers produced an excellent 3-1 victory over Kenny Dalglish’s hugely inconsistent Liverpool side, whilst the men from Molineux triumphed 4-0 at home to Blackpool. The Tangerines themselves are by no means safe. Starting their campaign like a house on fire, showing little regard for teams with – on paper at least – vastly superior playing squads, Ian

Holloway’s men have been a breath of fresh air; but their highly attacking approach to the game could yet prove to be their undoing. In spite of a spectacular victory over Milan-slayers Tottenham, the seasiders are on a poor run of form, and returning to the Championship after just one year away is a distinct possibility.

The relegation candidates do not end there though. In fact, perhaps the most in danger of demotion are West Brom; the side whose last-gasp point at Stoke on Monday evening actually lifted them out of the bottom three. Having shorn themselves of Roberto Di Matteo and instilled Roy Hodgson as manager, the Baggies face a truly horrific run-in; games against Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham are all on the horizon, not to mention three local derbies against Birmingham, Aston Villa and Mick McCarthy’s Wolves.

Birmingham, despite their glorious Carling Cup success at the weekend, are by no means safe either. Just a point ahead of Hodgson’s side, the St. Andrews outfit are the Premier League’s lowest scorers, with a paltry 25 goals in 26 games. Fortunately for them, they boast a better back line than other clubs loitering around the bottom of the table, something which could prove crucial in ensuring they aren’t playing Europa League football from the second tier next season. The chances of any other clubs realistically going down seem slim, but, taking the league’s unpredictable nature into account, it would be foolish for them to take survival as a given.

Manchester United’s defeat at Chelsea this week has been lauded as the result that blew the title race wide open. Whether that rings true remains to be seen, but the battle at the other end of the Premier League table is sure to be one that will keep observers hooked until the very final whistle.