Home of football statistics and historyAs the Premier League season draws to a close, it’s becoming clearer which teams will be plying their trade in the Championship next campaign. With Huddersfield’s relegation confirmed over the weekend, there are now only two remaining spots left in the bottom three – the clubs hovering dangerously above the dotted line will be doing all they can to make sure they avoid becoming embroiled in the relegation dogfight. With this in mind, we’ve cast our eye over the bottom half of the Premier League table and assessed the survival chances of teams who have not yet secured their top-flight status.
Fulham all set to keep Huddersfield company
With Fulham only 3 points ahead of already-relegated Huddersfield, Fulham look set to join the Terriers in the Championship next season. The sports betting odds certainly reflect this – getting a price on Fulham to be relegated is nigh on impossible, and when you look at the stats, it isn’t difficult to see why. The Cottagers last positive result came on the 29th January in the form of a 4-2 victory against Brighton at Craven Cottage, and they have lost their last eight fixtures in the Premier League. While there’s no such thing as a “shoe-in” in the world of football, this is as close as you’re ever going to get.
Writing On the wall for Cardiff?
You have to feel a bit sorry for Neil Warnock and his Cardiff side after the events that took place over the weekend. Not only was Chelsea’s equalising goal overwhelmingly offside, the Bluebirds also had two “stonewall” penalties turned down. It remains up in the air as to whether Warnock will be charged for his post-match comments, but for Cardiff, the repercussions could be much greater. The defeat against Chelsea leaves the Bluebirds 5 points adrift of Burnley in 17th, and with their game in hand against Manchester City (at the Etihad to make matters worse), it seems that Warnock and his side could be making their way back to the second tier of English football next season. 13th April. Burnley v Cardiff. Pencil it in. You won’t want to miss that one.
Who else?
After Burnley grabbed a vital win against Wolves last weekend, it looks increasingly likely that Cardiff will occupy that third and final relegation spot. Southampton have won their last two Premier League fixtures and look a new team under Ralph Hasenhuttl, Brighton have two games in hand over most of their rivals and Newcastle should just about have enough quality to see them survive. Teams such as Crystal Palace and Bournemouth would have to endure disastrous runs of form in order to put themselves in any danger, and even so, this would mean that Cardiff would have to demonstrate title-winning form to give themselves any chance. Although it would be pre-emptive to suggest that your fate is sealed after the result of a single game, Cardiff will certainly look at the Chelsea game as the final nail in the coffin if they are indeed to join Huddersfield and Fulham (well, probably) in the Championship next year.
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