Re: The Relegation Dogfight

The Relegation Dogfight has never been this close apart from probably the 06-07 season or maybe when West Brom survived coming in as the bottom team in 05. This time it is Boro, Newcastle, Hull and Sunderland who could be relegated.



Newcastle are on 34 points and are 18th in the table. Hull are on 35 points and are 17th. Boro have a measly 32 points and are 19th. Sunderland have 36 points and are in 16th place.



Newcastle this weekend travel to Birmingham to face a dispirited and free falling Aston Villa at Villa Park. Newcastle need a win there and hope Hull do not beat Man Utd because they have a worse goal difference than Newcastle and they need to beat Utd to improve on that. Villa are in 6th, a point behind Everton who are in 5th. Villa would want to battle for that 5th place and get it ahead of Everton who will travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham who can seal the Europa League with a point seeing that Tottenham will travel to Anfield.



Meanwhile, a point for Sunderland and they could be safe, depending on Hull's result. If Hull draw and Newcastle draw, Sunderland are safe. Altogether, they need a better result than Hull to stay up. Even if they don't get that they could well survive. Them winning would be tough because they are visiting Stamford Bridge at the weekend where Chelsea have not lost under Guus Hiddink. Chances of Sunderland getting a point are almost zero unless Hiddink plans to rest players for the FA Cup final where he wouldn't want it to become a Fuck-Up final!



Boro meanwhile travel to Upton Park in London to face West Ham United who are no more aiming for that Europa League spot as they are 5 points behind Fulham who currently occupy the 7th Spot. So West Ham have nothing to play for and Boro could well be confident of getting a good result there. Boro have been a case of misfiring guns this season, like Newcastle. Let's see if they can get the result needed.

Overall my predictions for the games is-

• Hull 1-1 Manchester United
• Sunderland 0-2 Chelsea
• Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle
• West Ham 2-1 Middlesbrough

The Newcastle game is really following my heart because I don't want the Geordies to be relegated :D

Well, if this happens, we will see Middlesbrough and Hull go down with West Brom into the Championship. Sunderland will finish 17th and Newcastle 16th.

Adios-

Shish