Today is ‘Survival Sunday’ as the five teams in danger of relegation from the Premier League play the final game of the season that will decide their fate.
Two of the five teams will be relegated and featuring in ChampionshipTalk regularly next season is unlikely to provide much consolation in what is one of the cruelest moments in football
Birmingham, Blackburn and Wolves are currently outside of the relegation zone and if they better the results of Wigan and Blackpool then survival will be assured.
Here is what each team needs to do to ensure survival.
Birmingham (39 points)
Birmingham are out of the relegation zone at the start of play by a single goal, this means that even victory does not guarantee survival should Blackpool or Wigan win by a bigger margin.
Birmingham face Tottenham on the final day at White Hart Lane, the scenarios that guarantee Birmingham’s survival are:
- Equalling or bettering the results of Blackpool and Wigan
- Winning against Tottenham and Blackburn and Wolves draw
Blackburn (40 points)
In the strongest position of the teams in danger, Blackburn can guarantee survival with a win. A draw is also likely to be enough as long as one of the club’s on 39 points fails to win.
Today they face Wolves in the stand out game of the day in what is likely to be a game to close to call with the result required to stay up likely to change on a regular basis.
Blackburn will survive if:
- They beat Wolves
- If they draw but two of Blackpool, Wigan and Birmingham fail to win
Blackpool (39 points)
Ian Holloway’s team travel to Old Trafford in what has to be the toughest fixture imaginable with survival on the line.
The Tangerines will be hoping that Manchester United will be in party mode and unconcerned by the result.
With the worst goal difference of the sides involved in ‘Survival Sunday’ victory may not ensure survival if all the other side’s involved win.
A draw may be enough should Birmingham and Wigan lose, here are the full scenarios that would see Blackpool survive.
- Beating Manchester United and at least two other teams failing to win
- Beating Manchester United by at least two more goals than a Wigan and Birmingham win their fixtures
- Drawing against Manchester United with Wigan and Birmingham losing
Wolves
Wolves are in a similar situation to Blackburn with the same number of points and facing their Lancastrian rivals today.
Mick Mcarthy can guarantee survival with a win but as with Rovers a draw or in the right circumstances a loss may be enough.
With home advantage Wolves should be slight favourites of those involved to avoid the drop.
Wigan
Wigan travel to Stoke today in an intimidating fixture that the Latics will feel they must win.
In a similar position to Blackpool a win may not be enough but a draw in right circumstances may be enough.
- Beating Stoke and at least two other teams failing to win
- Beating Stoke by at least two more goals than Blackpool and Birmingham win their fixtures
- Drawing against Stoke with Blackpool and Birmingham losing
ChampionshipTalk Prediction:
This Sunday will be as memorable as the 2004/2005 season where Norwich and Southampton were the victims in a similar scenario.
Unfortunately for Blackpool and Birmingham I think that they will lose today in their tough away fixtures condemning them to the Championship next season.
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