top of page

Relegation Scrap

It's that time of year again where we begin the final run-in to the battle to remain in the Top Flight. Seven teams currently have a realistic chance of being demoted to the Championship unless they can string together a run of points to stave off relegation.

There are few more important incentives than retaining your place amongst the top tier teams of English football than the revenue your club receives for doing so. With the new TV rights deal kicking in at the start of this season, just by retaining your place in the Top Division can mean upwards of $100m in prize money alone.

We have seen over the past decade clubs like Leeds United, Portsmouth and Charlton Athletic fall by the wayside in the lower leagues on much smaller income streams with some players on their roster still being paid handsome sums.

Over the past 28 seasons, approximately 25% of teams that are relegated return back to the Premier League the next season. After two seasons, this figure only rises slightly to around 35% of teams.

We take a look at each team facing the risk of relegation and their chances to remain in the Top Flight:

Sunderland - Currently 20th (5W/4D/16L/-22GD) - 19Pts

The Black Cats have had a dismal season and yet again find themselves scrapping for survival. Somehow they have managed to heave themselves away from relegation over the past few seasons, although with only 13 games to go, they find themselves at the foot of the table.

One man could be their saviour - Jermaine Defoe. The evergreen striker has scored more than half of Sunderland's goals and sits within the Top 5 goalscorers in the league. David Moyes will be doing all in his power to keep the striker fit heading into the home stretch.

Sunderland are the survival specialists so we could see the fight going all the way to the final day away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Fixtures remaining: EVE, MCI, MID, BUR, WAT, LEI, MNU, WSH, ARS, BOU, HUL, SWA & CHE

Verdict: Survival

Crystal Palace - Currently 19th (5/4/16/-14GD) - 19Pts

Palace have had a rocky season and find themselves in a reletively unknown position. Since they were promoted from the Championship in 2013/14, they have finished a modest 11th, 10th and 15th along with making the final of the FA Cup last season.

As with many teams at the foot of the table, Palace's defence have not been up to the mark. French International Steve Mandana was brought in along with James Tomkins and Patrick Van Aanholt to add some experience to a young side at the start of the season. This has seemed to backfire with Palace conceding 46 goals and this sort of leaky defence is cause for concern.

Since January, they have added further defensive re-inforcrements with experienced pair Mamadou Sakho and Jeffrey Schlupp. Alan Pardrew will be hoping that these two can help stop the leaks and ensure Palace's survival.

Palace have arguably the toughest run home facing all the sides currently occupying the top six positions on the table.

Fixtures remaining: MID, WSB, TOT, WAT, CHE, SOU, ARS, LEI, LIV, BUR, MCI, HUL & MNU

Verdict: Relegation

Hull City - Currently 18th (5/5/15/-27GD) - 20Pts

The Tigers have gone relatively unnoticed throughout the season but find themselves one point from safety with 13 games remaining.

They have conceded the second most and scored the second least goals of the campaign so far and will need to turn that around if they have any chance of survival.

Hull with have to do without captain Michael Dawson and striker Abel Hernandez for the next month with both out due to muscle injuries. Throw on top of that the departure of key man Robbert Snodgrass to West Ham in the January transfer window. Marco Silva faces an uphill battle although they received a much needed boost with a surprise 2-0 win over Liverpool recently.

They face telling fixtures against both Crystal Palace and Sunderland who occupy the two places below them. If they can scrap a couple of wins together here, they way just pull off a miracle.

Fixtures remaining: BUR, LEI, SWA, EVE, WSH, MID, MCI, STO, HUL, SOU, SUN, CRY & TOT

Verdict: Relegation

Leicester City - Currently 17th (5/6/14/-19GD) - 21Pts

As our post discussed last week, Leicester are in great danger of joining an unwanted club of being relegated just ONE season after winning the title. They have been a shadow of the team that captured the world's attention last year.

Their main downfall has been their ability to defend. They have leaked more goals after 25 games than they did for the whole of last season. Combine that with an unusually quiet Mahrez along with the departure of Kante and Leicester are staring down the barrel.

We have been waiting all season for Jamie Vardy to get going. Will his time to shine come in the run-up to the end of the season and prove to be the Foxes' saviour?

Their run home is relatively easy compared to the other teams. Of course though, Leicester have to manage their UEFA Champions League fixtures - something even more unique to add to their story.

Fixtures remaining: LIV, HUL, ARS, WSH, STO, SUN, EVE, CRY, TOT, WSB, WAT, MCI, BOU

Verdict: Survival

Middlesborough - Currently 16th (4/10/11-8GD) - 22Pts

Boro have battled all season to produce scoring opportunities and have mainly played on the counter attack. They have only managed 19 goals with forward Alvaro Negredo (6 goals) the only real threat for Middlesborough.

On a positive note, Boro have been one of the stingiest teams only conceding 27 goals which is quite a feat when compared to the other teams around them. Victor Valdes was a nifty bit of business by Aitor Karanka, to add some well needed experience to the Boro defensive line.

Boro have a tricky run home which feature games against five of the top six teams with key matches against fellow strugglers Hull City, Crystal Palace and Sunderland likely to determine their fate.

Fixtures remaining: CRY, STK, SUN, MNU, SWA, HUL, BUR, ARS, BOU, MCI, CHE, SOU & LIV.

Verdict: Relegation

Swansea - Currently 15th (7/3/15/-23GD) - 24Pts

The Swans have burnt through two Managers that include Gary Monk and a very short stay from American Bob Bradley. Credit though to the hierarchy at the Welsh club, they have made the tough calls and are starting to reap the rewards.

Swansea have climb out of the relegation zone, mainly thanks to linchpin Gylfi Sigurdsson. He has been involved in almost everything good for the Swans. He was the main man when they upset Liverpool and has helped them string together four straight League wins.

Clement's addition of Martin Olsson paid dividends at the weekend with a clinical goal against Champions Leicester, which ensured a much needed win against a fellow struggler.

Their road home sees only worrying trips to Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham. In all the remaining fixtures, Swansea will give themselves a chance of taking something from these games on the back of the confidence in their recent form.

Fixtures remaining: CHE, BUR, HUL, BOU, MID, TOT, WSH, WAT, STO, MNU, EVE, SUN, WSB

Verdict: Survival

Bournemouth - Currently 14th (7/5/12/-12) - 26 Pts

The Cherries were potting along quite nicely but have now found themselves struggling to string points together to save their season.

Eddie Howe's men have a decent scoring record but their problems have been highlighted at the opposite end of the park. They have conceded the equal second most amount of goals (49) and have lacked punch through the midfield.

Arsenal loanee Jack Wilshere and Liverpool's Jordan Ibe were surprise pickups at the start of the year but havent really shown their best for the Cherries. Wilshere's experience though could prove valuable towards the pointy end of the season after several season battling for the title with the Gunners.

The Cherries have a tough run of matches against Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham, and if they can manage to steal some points in these fixtures, it will re-affirm their position in the Top Flight for another season.

Fixtures remaining: WSB, MNU, WSH, SWA, SOU, LIV, CHE, TOT, MID, SUN, STO, BUR & LEI

Verdict: Survival


Featured Posts
Recent Posts
Archive
Search By Tags
Follow Us
  • Facebook Basic Square
  • Twitter Basic Square
  • Google+ Basic Square
bottom of page