The Fight To Avoid The Drop

With 2 games left of this season's Premier League, there are still a number of teams who could be considered in danger of relegation. 

Wigan currently occupy the last spot in the relegation zone and with 35 points they are 3 points behind the "safe" clubs. For the purposes of this article I shall only write about Wigan and the 3 clubs that are just 3 points above them.

The Latics have had a decent run in the premier league since their promotion to the top flight 8 years ago but I think that this season could be the one that they finally go back to the football league.  With 2 games left (and the small matter of an FA cup final tomorrow) I can see Wigan getting 3 maybe 4 points with games away at Arsenal and a home game against Aston Villa remaining. Write Wigan off at your peril. They will fight to the end. I expect them

to finish on 38/39 points.

At the time of writing this, the 3 most likely clubs that the club from Greater Manchester will be most likely be able to catch are Sunderland, Newcastle and my club Norwich City. 

I watched the last half of Sunderland's home game against Stoke City on Monday and I feel that they did well to get a point, especially after Craig Gardner was sent off for a reckless tackle. With games against Southampton at home and Spurs away finishing their season I can see them getting 3 maybe 4 more points (depending on what Tottenham need on the final day) and I reckon they will finish on 41 points. 

Newcastle are another club in danger of dropping into the football league. They travel to West London on Sunday to face already relegated QPR in a weird game to predict. The problem with QPR is that they have a capable squad of players but they haven't played as a good team for enough parts of this season. With Arsenal at home on the final day, the Magpies could be in for a tough final week but I expect them to get a point at least at Loftus Road. I predict that Newcastle will get 1 more point and therefore finish on 39 points. 

The last team in immediate trouble of going down is, unfortunately for me, Norwich City. After a really damaging last gasp defeat to Aston Villa last week-end the Canaries are just 3 clear of the drop with 2 games to play. West Brom at home on Sunday is a big game for the club and even though a point will be enough to secure survival, the management and players will surely be wanting to send their supporters off happy into the summer months with a home win (unlikely to win or get anything at Manchester City!).  I can see Norwich getting 3 points max from their last two games and as long as it's enough to keep the East Anglian side in the premier league people will be happy. 

For me, the key game is Arsenal v Wigan next Tuesday because it will either give Wigan hope going into their last game of the season against a safe Aston Villa or it will relegate them (depending on how the trio on 38 points do this Sunday). 

I just hope that for the health of me and all my fellow Norwich City fans that we do the business on Sunday and get the3 points to confirm another season of Premiership football.

If I had to guess at the final team to get relegated I would pick Wigan Athletic but fans of Norwich, Newcastle and Sunderland are sure to have a tense final week of the season.

Samir Osman (@Samir_ncfc)