The Relegation Battle: Wolves huff and puff and finally climb out of bottom three

EPL ; Mick McCarthy , Wolverhampton vs Bolton(Getty Images)

Related Links

ANALYSIS
By James Daly

And then there were seven. Seven teams who are peering nervously at the wrong end of the Premier League table as the games quickly disappear and the threat of relegation to the Championship becomes a distinct possibility.

Each week we say goodbye to a few teams and this week it’s the turn of Stoke, West Brom, Newcastle and Sunderland. This is where bums really start squeaking and managers start losing their hair and with just 180 minutes of football left it’s time for the results to do the talking.

Stoke hauled themselves out with an impressive victory over Arsenal while Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Birmingham was enough to keep them in the top flight for another season. Sunderland’s 2-1 win at Bolton was certainly not in the script but Steve Bruce won’t care after a horrid run of form during March and April.

Meanwhile, the match of next weekend is not at Wembley but rather at the DW Stadium, where Wigan host West Ham for a chance to stay in the Premier League and still get a mention on this relegation run down each week.

Not quite time to celebrate yet Villa fans, your team could still mathematically be dragged down into the Championship, and with two games left against Arsenal and Liverpool, Gary McAllister’s side may well have to hope the teams lower than them fail to pick up points.

And Villa are a tad fortunate to have Emile Heskey still available for their remaining two matches after the striker went a bit Di Canio on referee Mike Jones during the 1-1 draw with Wigan at the weekend, giving the official a frustrated shove, but just getting a yellow card.

Next match: Sunday – Arsenal (a)

Form rating:

Rovers are crawling toward the survival line like a shattered triathlete inching his way towards the chequered flag, and a point at West Ham on Saturday was not to be sniffed as, especially as it keeps Steve Kean’s side three points clear of the drop.

Blackburn could hand Manchester United the title if they fail to beat Sir Alex Ferguson’s men next Saturday but Kean believes they will need just one more point to secure survivial. If Chris Samba can repeat his defensive heroics from Saturday that might, just, materialise. Otherwise, a huge trip to Wolves follows on the last day of the season.

Next match: Saturday – Manchester United (h)

Form rating:

Where as last week Birmingham were the recipients of a large slice of fortune as Michael Mancienne gifted Sebastian Larsson a precious goal, this weekend they will be cursing their luck after going down 2-1 at Newcastle to a dubious penalty. Liam Ridgewell was a tad unfortunate to concede the spot kick for handball, and even more unfortunate to see red for it.

There is no word from the Bluenoses on whether they will appeal Ridgewell’s dismissal which means he joins Craig Gardner in the suspension club (Gardner picking up a red card last week against Wolves), and with two key players out for the final two games against Fulham and Tottenham things may not be that straight forward for Alex McLeish’s side.

Next match: Saturday – Newcastle (a)

Form rating:

In moments of desperation some men stand up and are counted. For Wolves, injury has decimated their side, especially in the striker department with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Kevin Doyle out for the season, but it was fellow forward Steven Fletcher who did the business with two goals in a precious 3-1 win over West Brom.

It lifts Wolves out of the drop zone on goal diference with two games to go against Sunderland and Blackburn, and one more win could well do it, meaning McCarthy will need Fletcher and Co. to repeat the goods.

Next match: Saturday – Sunderland (a)

Form rating:

An impressive draw at Tottenham would at any other time of the season have been gladly welcomed, but Blackpool need points, and after missing a penalty might feel aggrieved they couldn’t win this one. Especially as it took an 88th minute Jermain Defoe goal to salvage a point for Spurs.

The Seasiders are perhaps lucky they still have star man Charlie Adam for the final two games of the season after the Scot forced Gareth Bale off the pitch with a wreckless challenge on the Welshman’s ankle. Ian Holloway will need his midfielder in top form against Bolton on Saturday because after that it’s a trip to champions elect Manchester United.

Next match: Saturday – Bolton (h)

Form rating:



While Stoke and Manchester City prepare for the FA Cup final on Saturday, Wigan and West Ham will be playing their own cup final the next day. No trophy on offer here, just the chance to stay in the Premier League for another season.

The Latics will be hoping Charles N’Zogbia carries on his decent form of late, with the winger having netted in his last two games to earn precious points for Roberto Martinez’s side, but they will need at least one more win, if not two, from their final two games.

Next match: Sunday – West Ham (h)

Form rating:

It’s do or die for the Hammers against Wigan this weekend. Anything other than a win and they will be travelling to the likes of Brighton, Doncaster and Crystal Palace next season in the Championship. It took a late strike from Thomas Hitzlsperger to secure a point against Blackburn but Avram Grant’s side will need to do better this Sunday against Wigan.

Robbie Keane will no doubt be doing extra work in training this week on tap-ins from six yards after missing a guilt edged chance to earn all three points for the Hammers, points they can ill afford to be dropping at the moment.

Next match: Sunday – Wigan (a)

Form rating:

Follow James Daly on