As relegation axe prepares to drop, who will go down in the Premier League?

Glenn Moore delves into the murky world that is the relegation dog fight

Eight teams in to three relegation places won't go (Getty Images)

It is all over bar the gloating at the top but at the wrong end of the Premier League nerves are fraying, as Nigel Pearson’s "ostrich" outburst underlined. With a month to go, eight teams are in the mix, three will not make it, but which three?

West Bromwich Albion

Played 34 Goal Difference -14 Points 37

Form (most recent results first): D W L L L

Last relegated: 2008-09

Fixtures: Manchester Utd (a) Today, Newcastle Utd (a) 9 May, Chelsea (h) 18 May, Arsenal (a) 24 May

The revival under Tony Pulis looked as if it was juddering to a premature halt prior to victory at Selhurst Park but they are now probably a draw from safety and there is no manager in the league better at coaching his team to take a point. The obvious place to secure it, in an otherwise daunting run-in, is at St James’ Park next week.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis

Newcastle United

 

P 34 GD -21 Pts 35

Form: L L L L L

Last relegated: 2008-09

Fixtures: Leicester City (a) Today, West Brom (h) 9 May, QPR (a) 16 May, West Ham (h) 24 May

No points since February, supporters in mutiny, lame-duck caretaker manager. All the ingredients of a relegation-bound team are there. Has Mike Ashley imperilled his investment, or will the points previously accrued under Alan Pardew be enough to keep them up? They probably need to scrape a couple of draws, or even a win, but despite injury to Papiss Cissé that ought to be manageable given their run-in.

Fans have shown their unrest at St James' Park

Hull City

P 34 GD -13 Pts 34

Form: W W L L L

Last relegated: 2009-10

Fixtures: Arsenal (h) Mon, Burnley (h) 9 May, Tottenham (a) 16 May, Manchester Utd (h) 24 May

Two wins in a week have transformed the mood around the hitherto plummeting Tigers and, given the run-in, they were sorely needed. Hull started the season in the Europa League in early August and fatigue looked to be settling in with injuries bedevilling Steve Bruce’s squad, but they may now just make it, with Burnley’s visit crucial.

Michael Dawson's winner against Liverpool was his first goal for Hull

Aston Villa

P 34 GD -22 Pts 32

Form: L W D L L

Last relegated: 1986-87

Fixtures: Everton (h) Today, West Ham (h) 9 May, Southampton (a) 16 May, Burnley (h) 24 May

The atmosphere at Villa Park, so moribund under Paul Lambert, is vibrant, but they remain at risk after three wins in 10 league games. Reaching the FA Cup final is wonderful for the fans, and good for players’ confidence, but Tim Sherwood will be desperate to avoid copying Wigan’s fate in 2013. A team with a spine of Brad Guzan, Ron Vlaar, Fabian Delph and Christian Benteke should not be in this trouble and if that quartet stay fit they will survive.

Jack Grealish has emerged at Aston Villa in recent weeks

Leicester City

P 34 GD -18 Pts 31

Form: L W W W W

Last relegated: 2003-04

Fixtures: Newcastle United (h) Today, Southampton (h) 9 May, Sunderland (a) 16 May, QPR (h) 24 May

Playing matches with the same intensity their manager brings to press conferences has given Leicester the best chance of the promoted trio of staying up for a second season. Assuming Nigel Pearson’s confrontations with the media do not prove a distraction during the run-in, in which they can hurt the teams around them, they should make their escape.

Nigel Pearson apologised after calling a journalist an 'ostrich'

Sunderland

P 33 GD -23 Pts 30

Form: D L W L L

Last relegated: 2005-06

Fixtures: Southampton (h) Today, Everton (a) 9 May, Leicester City (h) 16 May, Arsenal (a) 20 May, Chelsea (a) 24 May

The new Coventry, forever battling and escaping the drop. When Dick Advocaat took over from Gus Poyet in March, Sunderland were out of the bottom three and it looked like the easiest £500,000 bonus the £100,000-a-month Dutchman would ever earn. But even Coventry went eventually and now Sunderland are in the drop zone after four points from as many games under Advocaat. Looking at the run-in they badly need a win at home to Southampton today. Top scorer, Connor Wickham, has five goals, which says it all.

Connor Wickham celebrates his goal against Stoke

Queen’s Park Rangers

P 34 GD -21 Pts 27

Form: D L D W L

Last relegated: 2012-13

Fixtures: Liverpool (a) Today, Man City (a) 10 May, Newcastle (h) 16 May, Leicester (a) 24 May

Relegation would be calamitous for QPR financially, but their ageing, well-renumerated side seems unable to stave it off. Recent performances have improved, but not the results because if Charlie Austin fails to score, no one else seems capable of stepping up. Dire home record in 2015 will be their undoing.

Charlie Austin saw a penalty against West Ham saved

Burnley

P 34 GD -26 Pts 26

Form: L L L D L

Last relegated: 2009-10

Fixtures: West Ham (a) Today, Hull (a) 9 May, Stoke (h) 16 May, Aston Villa (a) 24 May

Burnley currently sit bottom of the Premier League (Getty Images)

As it did five years ago, the Clarets’ brave fight looks like drawing to a bitter close. Last week’s defeat at home to Leicester was a killer blow. The goals have dried up for Danny Ings and one win in10, even if it was against Manchester City, is not good enough. It will soon be a question of can they hold on to Sean Dyche?