The Relegation Battle: West Ham slip to foot of Premier League as only Sunderland manage a win in bottom half

EPL,Steven Fletcher,Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Fulham

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ANALYSIS
By Josh Clarke

West Ham‘s comprehensive 3-0 loss at the hands of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has sent Avram Grant‘s side plummeting to the foot of the Premier League.

Capitalising on the Hammers slide was Wolves, who were unlucky not to come away with all three points at Fulham after Steven Fletcher had given them the lead, and could, if they win their game in hand, climb out of the drop zone.

A resounding win for Sunderland against fellow-strugglers Wigan saw them join Aston Villa on 41 points, while a dramatic late draw at White Hart Lane for West Brom and two ties this week for Newcastle saw both clubs also breach the 40-point barrier.

With just four games remaining for the majority of teams Goal.com explores the fortunes of those threatened with relegation.

The two draws in the space of a week for Alan Pardew’s team go a long way to summing up Newcastle’s rather contrasting season.

Good value for getting all three points against Premier League front-runners Manchester United, the Magpies were then lucky to have escaped Bloomsfield Road with a point at all this weekend. Not that they’ll care, having surpassed the 40-point mark, being seven points above the drop zone, with just 12 more available. Safety assured.

Next match: Sunday May 1 – Liverpool (a)

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Just as things were beginning to look hairy at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland pull out all the stops and absolutely thrash Wigan. Their first win in 10 has stopped the disconcerting freefall at the club that had threatened to spiral out of control.

Goals had become an issue for Steve Bruce’s men but a couple of neat finishes from Jordan Henderson put the gleam on an emphatic performance that thrust one of their fellow relegation candidates further into the mire. Now in the top half of the table, the Black Cats will be sighing their relief. One more win would do it.

Next match: Saturday April 30 – Fulham (h)

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Villa battled to a hard-earned draw against Stoke without boss Gerard Houllier, who was taken ill during the week. It was a scrappy, forgettable performance that spoke volumes of Darren Bent’s worth to the team – the scorer of Villa’s solitary goal.

The frontman has quietly amassed the goals that have safeguarded Villa against a real last-gasp battle with relegation. It’s unlikely they’ll be dragged into it this late, with a point in next week’s Midlands derby with West Brom probably enough to put their minds at rest.

Next match: Saturday April 30 – West Brom (a)

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It looked as if West Brom were set to leave White Hart Lane empty handed this weekend. Peter Odemwingie’s unlikely opener was cancelled out by Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermain Defoe efforts, with Spurs putting the visitors under the cosh all game.

But, testament to the durability of Roy Hodgson’s side, they hung in there and got the point their resilience deserved when Simon Cox curled in an absolute peach of an effort. West Brom have become a functional unit under Hodgson, capable of finding the back of the net and with this in mind it’s difficult to see them falling into trouble.

Next match: Saturday April 30 – Aston Villa (h)

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It doesn’t take a psychologist to identify that Mark Hughes is a frustrated man. His assault on a water bottle led to his dismissal at Wolves this weekend, in a game that saw them lucky to walk away with a point to the team that were bottom of the league.

However, the Cottagers boss would do well to see that as one point gained, rather than two lost, with Andy Johnson’s late equaliser sparing their blushes. They have a game in hand over most of the surrounding teams and having come into this stage of the season with a good two weeks’ rest, they should be in decent shape compared to weary opposition. With Bolton and Sunderland up next, Fulham should be able to take themselves over the 40-point mark.

Next match: Wednesday April 27 – Bolton (h)

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With one eye on the FA Cup final, Tony Pulis’s men would do well to remember that they are in the midst of a relegation dog fight. Taking the lead at Villa, they capitulated too easily and would have been sitting considerably more comfortably with three points in the bank.

Pulis has said that his players are feelings the effects of fatigue, but they can’t let this effect their run-in. The upcoming games with Wolves and Blackpool are the very definition of six-pointers and they will be sucked right back into things should they not pick up at least one win from those two.

Next match: Wednesday April 26 – Wolves (a)

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It’s been a bad week for Birmingham, who have conceded eight goals in the short space of three days. Having to play the resurgent units of Chelsea and Liverpool, both away from home, would have done Alex McLeish’s men no favours but they looked simply woeful as they went down 5-0 at Anfield.

A flash of inspiration is desperately needed at the club, but it’s hard to see where it would come from. Definitely not on-loan Barcelona man Alexander Hleb at any rate – who was missing in action again at the weekend. The Blues will be incredibly nervous going into the derby with Wolves next Sunday, particularly given the listless shows this week.

Next match: Sunday May 1 – Wolves (h)

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Blackburn didn’t play this weekend as they meet Manchester City this evening. Steve Kean’s side did slip one place in the table though and find themselves cut slightly adrift of the sides just above them.

A win against the top-four chasers seems unlikely, yet anything other than a win would leave Blackburn firmly in the kind of company they would wish to avoid. Three draws on the bounce has seen Blackburn sink slowly into trouble and realistically they will be one of the times fighting for survival come the last day of the seaosn.

Next match: Monday April 25 – Manchester City (h)

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Blackpool were desperately unlucky to come away from the game against Newcastle with just a point. The combination of a spate of denied penalty appeals as well as Peter Lovenkrands’ gifted opener left Ian Holloway cursing his side’s luck and it seems fair to say that the Seasiders have not been getting the rub of the green at all in recent weeks.

The Premier League’s great entertainers are currently the right side of the drop zone by the margin of one goal. They clearly can’t rely on this for too much longer. Winless in seven, something is needed to stop the rot at Bloomfield Road, particularly as they have one of the trickier looking run-ins.

Next match: Saturday April 30 – Stoke (h)

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Wigan looked tired this weekend, both physically and mentally. And slipping into the relegation zone after their tepid capitulation to Sunderland this weekend will have a terrible effect on Roberto Martinez’s men.

They need to pull themselves together though because prior to the Sunderland game they weren’t looking too bad at all. Scoring goals hasn’t been so much of an issue for them, with Mohamed Diame’s excellent strike and Franco Di Santo’s fruitful cameo off the bench proving that they aren’t reliant upon like likes of Hugo Rodellaga. Their reponse to defeat will be pivotal, it’s just a shame that in form Everton are up next.

Next match: Saturday April 30 – Everton (h)

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Wolves lifted themselves off the foot of the table after securing a point against Fulham this weekend. Though behind the scenes Mick McCarthy will be seething that they let a much-needed three points slip through their grasp.

It was a big point nonetheless and with their game in hand, Wolves could climb out of the relegation zone by midweek. Steven Fletcher proved with his excellent header that he can fill the void left by Kevin Doyle and there will be belief in the camp that they can pull themselves out of trouble.

Next match: Tuesday April 26 – Stoke (a)

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Oh how West Ham missed the influential backbone of Scott Parker and Matthew Upson this weekend. The Hammers were unable to handle anything Chelsea offered going forward and were just as uninspired going forward, with Robbie Keane spruning several golden scoring opportunities.

The death knell seems to be ringing now for Avram Grant’s side, who need someone other than the Football Writers’ Player of the Year to step up and perform. The one silver lining is that their last three games are all against teams also flirting with the drop, so at least their destiny is in their own hands.

Next match: Sunday May 1 – Manchester City (a) 

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