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The Relegation Battle: Last gasp Aston Villa win at West Ham ensures Gerard Houllier’s side reach the 40-point mark
Gabby Agbonlahor header condemns Hammers to defeat, while Wigan hoist themselves out of trouble at free-falling Blackpool’s expense, as Sunderland, Blackburn and West Brom all lose
Apr 18, 2011 7:30:00 AM
By Josh Clarke
Getty Images
ANALYSIS
By Josh Clarke
A selection of teams threatened to stick their head above the parapet and reach the so-called Premier League safety net of 40 points, but only Aston Villa prevailed this weekend.
Now they've reached the 40-point barrier, surely Villa are safe? They needed a last-gasp Gabby Agbonlahor header to see off a resilient Newcastle but Gerard Houllier will not have cared how the three points were won.
A couple more wins on the bounce could mean that the Midlands club will be competing for a Europa League spot, but given the topsy turvy nature of the league this season, one or two more losses could drag them back into the mire - particularly as they face Stoke and West Brom. It's not done and dusted yet by any means for Villa, but you can't help but think they have done enough.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Stoke (h)
Form rating:
The Magpies were probably thankful for the rest this weekend, as well as the chance to
take stock of the situation unfolding beneath them, as they perch above the contenders and have a game in hand (albeit against the league leaders).
Form rating:
On a fine run of late, many fancied West Brom to upset the apple cart when they took on Chelsea at the Hawthornes. It didn’t quite turn out that way though; with Peter Odemwingie’s early strike being cancelled out by a quick-fire first-half treble by the title holders.
Form rating:
Fulham would have looked at their run-in early on in the season with a wry smile on their faces. Of course, playing five teams below you could work as a double-edged sword but confidence is high at Craven Cottage at the minute, with home territory becoming a fortress-of-sorts for the Cottagers.
Form rating:
The stunning 5-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Bolton proved that the Potters have the fight and the class to be able to stay up this year. The prospect of a glamor cup final will also go a long way to providing incentive for each of Tony Pulis’s men to perform well at the tail end of this season – no-one will want to miss out at Wembley.
Form rating:
Blues have steadied the ship of late, picking up seven points from the last available nine, and look primed to continue their ascent up the table. If they win their game in hand they would overtake Villa, such is the tight-knit nature of things in the bottom half of the league.
Next match: Wednesday 20 - Aston Villa (a)
Form rating:
Things are not looking good with the Black Cats and Steve Bruce needs to address an alarming slump in form that has seen his men plummet down the table, with no wins in nine.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Wigan (h)
Form rating:
With just two points separating ninth and 15th, Rovers head the next group of teams.
Next match: Monday 25 - Manchester City (h)
Form rating:
This weekend’s win against Blackpool would have done a lot to restore the Latics’ confidence after a thankless couple of games against Spurs and Chelsea, and with Sunderland up next that timing could be crucial.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Sunderland (a)
Form rating:
Ian Holloway has touted 39 points as the target his side need to reach in order to be safe. Yet, every game that goes by without a Seasiders victory makes this claim seem all the more unattainable.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Newcastle (h)
Form rating:
The Hammers desperately missed the presence of Scott Parker this week as they went down to Villa and the influential midfielder could be missing from action in the forthcoming games with Chelsea and Manchester City.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Chelsea (a)
Form rating:
Wolves didn't play this weekend and now find themselves bottom of the pile. But if they win their game in hand they could potentially jump back up to 17th.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Fulham (h)
Form rating:
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By Josh Clarke
A selection of teams threatened to stick their head above the parapet and reach the so-called Premier League safety net of 40 points, but only Aston Villa prevailed this weekend.
The Villans snatched it in stoppage time at Upton Park and leapfrogged a host of teams as relegation six-pointers went a large way to shaping the fortunes of each team’s battle to survive.
Wigan seesawed above Blackpool as the Seasiders' woeful league form showed no signs of letting up and Birmingham’s steady 2-0 win at home to Sunderland ensured the Blues put daylight between them and the bottom three, with a game in hand to boot.
| BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL |
||||||||
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | |||
| 9 |
 |
Aston Villa | 33 | 10 | 10 |
13 | -12 | 40 |
| 10 |
 |
Newcastle | 32 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 39 |
| 11 |  |
West Brom | 33 | 10 |
9 |
14 | -15 |
39 |
| 12 |  |
Fulham | 32 | 8 |
14 |
10 | 1 |
38 |
| 13 |  |
Stoke City | 32 | 11 |
5 |
16 | -3 | 38 |
| 14 |  |
Birmingham | 32 | 8 |
14 | 10 | -10 | 38 |
| 15 |  |
Sunderland | 33 | 9 | 11 |
13 | -12 | 38 |
| 16 |  |
Blackburn | 33 | 9 |
8 |
16 | -14 | 35 |
| 17 |  |
Wigan | 33 |
7 |
13 |
13 | -21 | 34 |
| 18 |  |
Blackpool | 33 | 9 |
6 |
18 | -22 | 33 |
| 19 |  |
West Ham | 33 | 7 |
11 |
15 | -19 | 32 |
| 20 |  |
Wolves | 32 | 9 |
5 |
18 | -20 | 32 |
| 9th |
 |
Aston Villa Last week: 14th |
40 points Last week: 37 points |
GD -12 Last week: -13 |
Now they've reached the 40-point barrier, surely Villa are safe? They needed a last-gasp Gabby Agbonlahor header to see off a resilient Newcastle but Gerard Houllier will not have cared how the three points were won.A couple more wins on the bounce could mean that the Midlands club will be competing for a Europa League spot, but given the topsy turvy nature of the league this season, one or two more losses could drag them back into the mire - particularly as they face Stoke and West Brom. It's not done and dusted yet by any means for Villa, but you can't help but think they have done enough.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Stoke (h)
Form rating:
| 10th |
 |
Newcastle Last week: 9th |
39 points Last week: 39 points |
GD 1 Last week: 1 |
The Magpies were probably thankful for the rest this weekend, as well as the chance to
take stock of the situation unfolding beneath them, as they perch above the contenders and have a game in hand (albeit against the league leaders).It is unlikely that the Alan Pardew’s side will do much to prevent Manchester United’s relentless march towards the Premier League title this Tuesday but they do have the opportunity to be the masters of their own fate with crunch games against Blackpool, Birmingham and West Brom giving them the chance to scamper to safety.
Next match: Tuesday 19 - Manchester United (h)Form rating:
| 11th |
 |
West Brom Last week: 10th |
39 points Last week: 38 points |
GD -15 Last week: -13 |
On a fine run of late, many fancied West Brom to upset the apple cart when they took on Chelsea at the Hawthornes. It didn’t quite turn out that way though; with Peter Odemwingie’s early strike being cancelled out by a quick-fire first-half treble by the title holders.
Roy Hodgson will probably not be too perturbed by the loss, safe in the knowledge that a win against Wolves would place them at an almost unassailable distance above their rivals.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Tottenham (a)Form rating:
| 12th |
 |
Fulham Last week: 11th |
38 points Last week: 38 points |
GD 1 Last week: 1 |
Fulham would have looked at their run-in early on in the season with a wry smile on their faces. Of course, playing five teams below you could work as a double-edged sword but confidence is high at Craven Cottage at the minute, with home territory becoming a fortress-of-sorts for the Cottagers.
The return to form of crocked striker Bobby Zamora will be central to the side’s chances, with his clinical double in the 3-0 win over Blackpool last week suggesting the one-time England man has the firepower required to ensure Premier League status.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Wolves (a)
Form rating:
| 13th |
 |
Stoke City Last week: 12th |
38 points Last week: 38 points |
GD -3 Last week -3 |
The stunning 5-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Bolton proved that the Potters have the fight and the class to be able to stay up this year. The prospect of a glamor cup final will also go a long way to providing incentive for each of Tony Pulis’s men to perform well at the tail end of this season – no-one will want to miss out at Wembley.
They have the chance to guarantee their survival before meeting Manchester City in the final though and a win at Villa Park would give them momentum before quick-fire games against Blackpool and Wolves. Two wins from those three should be enough.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Aston Villa (a)
Form rating:
| 14th |
 |
Birmingham Last week: 16th |
38 points Last week: 35 points |
GD -10 Last week: -12 |
Blues have steadied the ship of late, picking up seven points from the last available nine, and look primed to continue their ascent up the table. If they win their game in hand they would overtake Villa, such is the tight-knit nature of things in the bottom half of the league.
With guaranteed European football coming to St Andrew's next season, Alex McLeish will be desperate not to let anything jeopardize his side’s status in the top flight.
Next match: Wednesday 20 - Aston Villa (a)
Form rating:
| 15th |
 |
Sunderland Last week: 13th |
38 points Last week: 38 points |
GD -12 Last week: -10 |
Things are not looking good with the Black Cats and Steve Bruce needs to address an alarming slump in form that has seen his men plummet down the table, with no wins in nine.
The most worrying thing for Bruce is the sheer lack of goals his side are registering, coupled with an inability to beat the teams in and around them – both demonstrated in the latest loss to Birmingham. With Fraizer Campbell now out for the foreseeable future, Danny Welbeck struggling for match sharpness and Asamoah Gyan off the boil, things are looking grim up north.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Wigan (h)
Form rating:
| 16th |
 |
Blackburn Last week: 15th |
35 points Last week: 35 points |
GD -14 Last week: -12 |
With just two points separating ninth and 15th, Rovers head the next group of teams.
Away from Ewood Park, Blackburn have been absolutely terrible and at home they still have to host both Manchester clubs. Steve Kean faces an unenviable challenge and one struggles to see where goals would come from – highlighted by the fact that loaned-out El Hadji Diouf is still Rovers' top scorer this term.
Next match: Monday 25 - Manchester City (h)
Form rating:
| 17th |
 |
Wigan Last week: 20th |
34 points Last week: 31 points |
GD -21 Last week: -23 |
This weekend’s win against Blackpool would have done a lot to restore the Latics’ confidence after a thankless couple of games against Spurs and Chelsea, and with Sunderland up next that timing could be crucial.
The thing with Wigan is that they seem to pick up the points when it matters and Roberto Martinez’s team might just do it.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Sunderland (a)
Form rating:
| 18th |
 |
Blackpool Last week: 17th |
33 points Last week: 33 points |
GD -22 Last week: -20 |
Ian Holloway has touted 39 points as the target his side need to reach in order to be safe. Yet, every game that goes by without a Seasiders victory makes this claim seem all the more unattainable.
Slipping into the bottom three for the first time this season, things are looking ominous for Blackpool. They’ve proved the Premier League’s great entertainers in their maiden season yet their slackness at the back greatly outweighs their proficiency up front.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Newcastle (h)
Form rating:
| 19th |
 |
West Ham Last week: 18th |
32 points Last week: 32 points |
GD -19 Last week: -18 |
The Hammers desperately missed the presence of Scott Parker this week as they went down to Villa and the influential midfielder could be missing from action in the forthcoming games with Chelsea and Manchester City.
Avram Grant must be looking at his team with dismay after it appeared that a post-Christmas resurgence was very much on the cards. On paper, they look too good to go down, but that was said about West Ham back in 2003 when they were relegation to the Championship.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Chelsea (a)
Form rating:
| 20th |
 |
Wolves Last week: 19th |
32 points Last week: 32 points |
GD -20 Lst week: -20 |
Wolves didn't play this weekend and now find themselves bottom of the pile. But if they win their game in hand they could potentially jump back up to 17th.
Mick McCarthy will take solace from the fact that his side have got all games against the top-half teams out of the way and that their future is very much in their own hands. Key man Kevin Doyle is set to miss the rest of the season and his absence has dealt a major blow to Wolves’ hopes.
Next match: Saturday 23 - Fulham (h)
Form rating:
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