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Sunderland rose to the Premier League two seasons ago with Roy Keane’s magnetism, and it was the same presence that kept them afloat last season.&nbsp; The reform movement lost steam when Keane left, and Sunderland have been rudderless since Ricky Sbragia transcended the interim label.&nbsp; The club is in fourteenth place, but just three points above the drop zone. 
Form: Sunderland have nine points from their last eight matches, winning two and drawing another three.&nbsp; The two wins came at home against Stoke and Fulham, which isn’t so impressive, but the type of wins they need to stay up.&nbsp; Though, the eight game sample sounds better than it should, because Sunderland are winless in their last five.
Schedule: Sunderland’s schedule is not hospitable.&nbsp; Three out of their four home matches are against Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea, squelching opportunities to shoot for a home win.&nbsp; They may get a reprieve if the final Chelsea match is a dead rubber, but even a deflated Chelsea team could compete.&nbsp; The other home tie is against Hull City.&nbsp; Sunderland also travel to West Ham, West Brom, Bolton and Portsmouth. 
Injuries: Sunderland are not really beset with crucial injuries, with Teemu Tainio being the most significant loss.&nbsp; Amazingly, Djibril Cisse has not broken his leg, but there’s still time. &nbsp;Their talented players are healthy. &nbsp;They just need to play well.
Prognosis: Sunderland have not beaten a noteworthy team all season, going winless against the top eight.&nbsp; Besides the occasional flash of brilliance, they don’t create and they struggle to score, managing just 29 in 30 matches.&nbsp; Sunderland need to win two to three of the next eight games to ensure their safety.&nbsp; It doesn’t look likely.&nbsp; If Newcastle catches some luck, Sunderland may be relegated instead.
This post is part of a series on relegation. &nbsp;Check out our other posts on <a href="http:\/\/epltalk.com/the-relegation-rumble-bolton-wanderers/5231">Bolton</a> and <a href="http:\/\/epltalk.com/the-relegation-rumble-hull-city/5272">Hull City</a>.

The Relegation Rumble: Sunderland - World Soccer Talk

The Relegation Rumble: Sunderland

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With Aston Villa’s demise the top of the league once again appears calcified, so, like Kim Kardashian crammed into a designer dress, the bulk of the tension will be at the bottom. &nbsp;Here is the first of a series of assessments of this season’s relegation candidates.
As wretched as Manchester City and Tottenham have been at times this season, they are nine points clear.&nbsp; They may not inspire much toward the end, but even if they stay static, it’s hard to see enough of the knuckle-draggers clambering up to knock them into the relegation zone.&nbsp; Therefore Bolton are the first to technically be considered candidates for relegation.
Form: Bolton sit in twelfth place, on 34 points, five points clear of the drop.&nbsp; They have a reasonable run of form in the past eight games, winning three, losing three and drawing two.&nbsp; The club been hit or miss this season, drawing just four of the first thirty matches, but that is an advantage.&nbsp; It’s easier to get to 40 points by winning twice in eight matches, than by gutting out six draws.
Schedule: Bolton have the points advantage, and they also have one of the easier schedules.&nbsp; They face one top four side, Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge.&nbsp; They have three benign home fixtures (Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Hull City) to get two wins.&nbsp; On current form, a date with Aston Villa could be ripe as well.&nbsp; Bolton could conceivably pick up a point or two away to Portsmouth, Wigan Athletic or Man City.&nbsp; On schedule alone, Bolton getting to safety seems probable.
Injuries: One of the advantages to having few dynamic players, is not being dependent on such creative forces.&nbsp; None of their injuries (Mark Davies, Vaz Te or O’Brien) has been critical to Bolton’s fortunes this season.&nbsp; Matty Taylor is the only midfielder to have scored a goal this season, and Kevin Davies is the only reasonably effective striker.&nbsp; As long as those two stay healthy, Bolton should be reasonably competitive.
Prognosis: One bad weekend could see Bolton thrust back into the race, but, at this point, they have the best position, a soft schedule and a stable squad.&nbsp; It would take an epic collapse, intermingled with startling runs of form from three or four other clubs to see Bolton relegated.&nbsp; It’s probably not going to happen.

The Relegation Rumble: Bolton Wanderers - World Soccer Talk

The Relegation Rumble: Bolton Wanderers

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With 24 more points available in the 2008-2009 season, I hesitate to say that&nbsp;next weekend’s match with Stoke City is a must-win for West Bromwich Albion for its hopes for avoiding the drop.
But it really is.
The Baggies are rooted to the bottom of the table with 24 points with eight matches to go and any hopes for survival start at The Hawthorns&nbsp;on April 4&nbsp;against the Potters.
Why is this match so important? It’s one of the best chances at three points left on the schedule.
West Brom’s remaining games
<ul>
<li>April 4 – Stoke City</li>
<li>April 11 – at Portsmouth</li>
<li>April 18 – at Manchester City</li>
<li>April 25– Sunderland</li>
<li>May 2 – at Tottenham&nbsp;</li>
<li>May 9 – Wigan</li>
<li>May 16 – Liverpool</li>
<li>May 24 – at Blackburn Rovers</li>
</ul>
As you can see, the push for the finish line is not exactly littered with chances for West Brom. But a win against Stoke – and it would be the first in six years – would serve as a confidence booster ahead of a relegation six-pointer at Fratton Park against Pompey the following weekend.
Midfielder Robert Koren hasn’t given up on his team’s chances of survival, telling the official team Web site on Tuesday that, “the next game against Stoke is very important. If we can get three points I think the fight will be open again.”
<div class="mceTemp">I tend to agree. Getting points on the road against Man City, Spurs or Blackburn will be tough. But three points at home after the international break will breathe life into a season that’s a bit lacking in that department at the moment.</div>
<div class="mceTemp">It will probably take somewhere in the neighborhood of 37 points to stay up this season, so the Baggies have quite a bit of work to do.</div>
<div class="mceTemp">But after Fulham’s great escape last year, anything is possible.</div>
<div class="mceTemp">A win against the Potters keeps hope alive.</div>
<div class="mceTemp">Anything less, and the trap door opens a bit wider.</div>

Do or die for West Brom - World Soccer Talk

Do or die for West Brom

<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ipswich.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ipswich.jpg"><img loading="lazy" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20090120_WST_73031_Ipswich-300x199.webp&amp;width=300&amp;height=199" alt="Ipswich" width="300" height="199" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-139388" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/05/Ipswich-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/05/Ipswich-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/05/Ipswich-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/05/Ipswich.jpg 1023w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></a></figure></div>
Table topping Wolves keep up their assault on the Coca-Cola Championship with a draw at Bristol City. Wolves went up 2-0 thanks to goals by Collins and Jarvis but after the break Bristol City pulled even with Adebola and former Crewe trainee Nicky Maynard getting the equalizer on 87 minutes. Reading failed to capitalize on Wolves dropping points losing 2-0 to Swansea City thanks to goals by Scotland and Orlandi, Liam Rosenier was shown a red card for Reading on the 81st minute compounding things for the Royals. Reading now sit 5 points behind Wolves and only 2 points ahead of Birmingham who sit in the first playoff spot. Like Reading, Birmingham were unable to take advantage of Wolves dropping points, managing a draw against Cardiff City who sit in the final playoff slot. Joe Leadley put the&nbsp;Bule Birds ahead&nbsp;on the 61st minute but Lee Bowyer equalized on the 90th&nbsp;minute earning Birmingham a point. Sheffield United&nbsp;continued their solid start with a 2-0 victory over relegation&nbsp;threatened Watford at Vicarage Road. &nbsp;Preston dispatched Burnley 2-1 to keep their playoff hopes alive as well.
Ipswich Town crushed Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park. The tractor boys were lethal and Garvin, Norris and Lisbie got their names on the scoresheet while Clint Hill added to a bad day by scoring an own goal, for Palace the only bright spot was Alan Lee who at least prevented a clean sheet. Charltons season went from bad to worse and relegation looks more likely by the week as they were thumped by Sheffield Wednesday 4-1. Tudgay put two in the back of the net while Potters and Jeffers added more misery to Charltons season. Charlton sit at the foot of the table with just 19 points and are 10 points from safety, the other two relegation teams are starting to pull away for Charlton. Speaking of other relegation clubs, it was a relegation six pointer at St. Mary’s stadium between Doncaster and Southampton. Doncaster got the vital three points by virtue of a 2-1 victory with Martins and Coppinger providing the firepower need to secure the critical 3 points. Southampton sit with 26 points while Doncaster has 27 points but is in the final relegation spot via goal difference with Watford, and that difference is only one goal. New Derby manager Nigel Clough is still awaiting his first leage win as Derby went down to QPR at Pride Park 2-0. In another high scoring match, Norwich thumped Barnsley 4-0 with Hoolahan, Cureton, Clingan and Russell all getting goals in the match. Nottingham Forest picked up another 3 points by winning 2-0 over Plymouth at City ground. Robert Earnshaw and Paul Anderson provided the goals. &nbsp;

Wolves Keep The Title Challenge On, Charlton Slip Closer to Relegation - World Soccer Talk

Wolves Keep The Title Challenge On, Charlton Slip Closer to Relegation

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With almost 20% of the season completed, we already have a good idea of which clubs will shine and underwhelm this 2008/2009 Premier League season, as well as which ones are destined for mid-table mediocrity.
Sure, we still have 80% of the season remaining, but out of the clubs you’ve seen thus far, which ones do you believe will end up being relegated?
Here are my three picks:
<ul>
<li>18. Tottenham Hotspur — Unless something massive happens, which would be the sacking of Juande Ramos, Spurs are destined for a terrible season with a team of dispirited players with no leader and no strike partnership,</li>
<li>19. Fulham — The Craven Cottage side is looking worse this year than they did last season, and that’s saying something. I fail to see who will rescue them this season on the pitch.</li>
<li>20. Stoke City — Stoke won’t go down easy. They still have plenty of fight in them although ultimately they’ll get relegated because of a lack of a proven goalscorer. Dave Kitson is not going to do it for them.</li>
</ul>
Share your three picks for relegation by clicking the comments button below.

Which Premier League Teams Will Get Relegated? - World Soccer Talk

Which Premier League Teams Will Get Relegated?

The playoffs are almost done and only two more teams will be vying for promotion to League One, Rochdale and Stockport. What is known after today&nbsp;are what teams will be leaving and coming into the Championship for next season. Gaining promotion to the EPL along with the riches and glory are West Bromwich Albion as Champions, Stoke City in second place and Hull City winners of the CCC Playoff Final yesterday against Bristol City. Hull have now gotten rid of the “biggest city to never have a top flight team” tag. Coming up from League One are Swansea City as League One Champs, Nottingham Forest( or as I affectionately call them Notts Florist)&nbsp;in second and today Doncaster Rovers secured thier place in the Championship by beating Leeds United 1-0 in the League One Playoff Final. For Doncaster they were playing in the Blue Square Premier only 5 years ago so this is quite a rise for them.
Coming down from the EPL are my beloved Derby County, Birmingham City, and Reading. All three teams now have two years of 11 million dollars worth of parachute payments to help regroup and get promoted once more.In there last year of parachute payments&nbsp; after relegation from the EPL last season&nbsp;are Charlton and Sheffield United and Watford.&nbsp;Going down into&nbsp;League One are Colchester, Scunthorpe, and Leicester City.
With the Championship being wide open and the transfer window not open yet its almost impossible to predict who will go up and will go down but as the summer evolves I will try to do just that and I am sure be proved spectacularly wrong.

Welcome and Goodbye to the Championship - World Soccer Talk

Welcome and Goodbye to the Championship

It’s squeaky bum time in the Premier League, with two matches left to play.&nbsp; There is the ever exciting battle between underwhelming uberclubs for the title.&nbsp; Yawn.&nbsp; The second tier battle to see which club can send itself careening down next year’s table for the right to lose to a Spanish club in the UEFA Cup semifinals.&nbsp; Bigger Yawn.
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Like a Kim Kardashian sex tape, the most exciting action will be at the bottom, with six clubs grappling desperately to be one of the four that avoid relegation to the demented morass that is the Championship.&nbsp; There is nothing that motivates footballers more than having to trade their prawn cocktails, exclusive parties and high-class prostitutes for a bacon sandwich, a bar wench and a rainy night in Sheffield.
Here is how the teams look with two games to play.
Wigan Athletic
The Latics currently sit 14th on 37 points.&nbsp; They are on a strong run, earning seven points from their last four matches, and they need just one point from the remaining two matches to secure the status quo.&nbsp; That will be a tough task, however, as they must travel to Aston Villa, who are fighting for a UEFA Cup place and then host Manchester United on the final day, with the title on the line.&nbsp; But, even if they don’t get the magical point, it is hard to see fate relegating Wigan.&nbsp; It would require Bolton, Birmingham, and Reading to win their remaining two matches, and for Middlesbrough to take at least one point from their remaining two and to pass Wigan on goal difference.&nbsp; Not a likely scenario.
Middlesbrough
Southgate’s men will probably be safe though not from their own exertion, having won just one of their last ten, including crushing defeats to Bolton and Sunderland, when results would have all but secured their place.&nbsp; They would need a win to clinch, or a point to pretty much assure.&nbsp; Away at Portsmouth, with Pompey still in contention for Europe, might be a reach, but Man City look ripe for plucking a result with their recent form.&nbsp; Even if they lose both, 36 pts would likely still keep them up.
Bolton
Bolton looked dead and down when they took just one point from seven matches through February and March, but seven points from their last three matches leaves them one point above the drop zone.&nbsp; They look like a safe bet to get three, with safe Sunderland at home next week.&nbsp; Though, they will surely drop points the last day of the season at Stamford Bridge.&nbsp; If they get a win against Sunderland, they will likely be safe.&nbsp; If not, they could be in grave danger. 
 
Reading
Reading are holding their noses above water as well, one point from the drop.&nbsp; Winning just three of their past eighteen matches has not helped their cause.&nbsp; They have the lowest goal difference of any of the relegation candidates, so they will likely need to go through on points.&nbsp; However, they have the easiest run in of any of the clubs.&nbsp; They face a Tottenham team who are already planning for vacations at home, and then face bottom feeder Derby, winner of just one match all season, at Pride Park.&nbsp; Coppell’s men would like six points, though four would probably keep them up. 
 
Birmingham
Bongo FC blew a bountiful chance by letting Liverpool skulk away with a 2-2 draw.&nbsp; They will likely need to win both their relegation six pointer with Fulham and their match against an aimless Blackburn at home to ensure their Premier League status.&nbsp; They do have an advantage over the clubs on goal difference, however.
Fulham
Fulham have the hardest road, needing to win both their matches to bump them to 36 points and get some help.&nbsp; They face Birmingham in the aforementioned six pointer, and also face Portsmouth at home.&nbsp; Everton and Aston Villa next week could be key, as their performances may dictate whether the last match of the season will be a meaningful one for Portsmouth.&nbsp; It will certainly take one of those mythical Brian McBride miracles for Premier League football to be played at Craven Cottage next year.
Prediction
Birmingham and Fulham will be relegated.&nbsp; I can see Fulham winning the relegation six pointer with Birmingham, but I am not confident they can take the three points at Portsmouth, leaving them at 33/34.&nbsp; I don’t think Birmingham gets more than one point from the next two matches, leaving them on 33.&nbsp; I think Reading gets four points to 37 and escapes.&nbsp; I think Bolton will draw Sunderland and lose to Chelsea leaving them on 34.&nbsp; I see Bolton beating out Fulham and Birmingham either by one point or by goal difference.

Relegation Rumble - World Soccer Talk

Relegation Rumble

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Fulham FC sprang back to life on Sunday, with a startling 1-0 victory over European-bound Everton.
The win, Fulham’s fourth of the season, places gives them 23 pts – an effective four points away from safety.
However, Odds and Sods will now make a bold prediction.&nbsp; Fulham will not be relegated. 
The club has momentum.
Fulham finally has started to mesh in this latter part of the season, spurred by the return of Jimmy Bullard and Brian McBride.&nbsp; They have also had an impressive run, earning four points from two grueling fixtures against top half opposition in Everton and Blackburn.
The club was unlucky at the onset, bafflingly blowing a few first-half leads, followed by a morbid holiday respite – lasting through Februrary.&nbsp; Fulham are a decent side with extraordinarily bad luck.&nbsp; They are due for some good football.
Fulham also have an easier schedule.
They do face a problem.&nbsp; They have only three home matches remaining and have not won away all season.&nbsp; However, two winnable relegation six-pointers come in the next two away matches at Newcastle (Mar. 22) and at Derby (Mar 29.).&nbsp; They also have additional six-pointers with Sunderland and Birmingham at home and Reading away.&nbsp; Should Fulham climb the table it will come at the direct expense of their fellow bottom dwellers.
The only top four side that Fulham play is Liverpool at home (Apr. 19) – who may be conserving players for a Champions League run. 
If Fulham finagles four points, from the next two matches.&nbsp; That leaves them with 27 pts with six matches remaining.&nbsp; If they again get four from Sunderland and Birmingham at home, that is 31 pts.&nbsp; It’s not unreasonable they get four pts from the other four matches amassing the total 35 pts.&nbsp; That may be enough to keep them up, particularly with some help.
That estimate also assumes merely a reasonable level of competence, not an impressive run.
Bolton have a much tougher road.&nbsp; They still must travel to Man Utd., Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham.&nbsp; They also host Arsenal and Man City.&nbsp; They have only one relegation six-pointer at home to Sunderland (May 3.).&nbsp; Relegation seems a certainty at this point.
Birmingham have a slightly less arduous schedule, but still must host Liverpool, Man City, Blackburn and Everton.
Sunderland still have to host Man City and Arsenal and travel to Aston Villa.
Any fixture poses a problem for the soccer circus at this point.&nbsp; But Newcastle face away matches with Tottenham, West Ham, Portsmouth and Everton.&nbsp; They also host Chelsea in the penultimate match.
It’s not impossible that one or two teams from this group take a tumble, opening a door for Fulham.
They do have the fewest points, but they have the edge in talent and the easiest schedule.&nbsp; If Fulham can denounce their doldrums and play at close to their potential, there is no reason they can’t avoid the drop.

ALL POSTS TAGGED "relegation" - Page 4

General

The Relegation Rumble: Sunderland

General

The Relegation Rumble: Bolton Wanderers

General

Do or die for West Brom

Bristol City

Wolves Keep The Title Challenge On, Charlton Slip Closer to Relegation

General

Which Premier League Teams Will Get Relegated?

Leagues: Championship

Welcome and Goodbye to the Championship

General

Relegation Rumble

General

Prediction: Fulham Will Not Be Relegated