Premiership Relegation Fight
Sheffield United and West Ham Improve but Charlton and Wigan Slip
Fulham, Charlton, Sheffield United, West Ham and Wigan fight to avoid relegation from the Premiership. Sheffield United and West Ham win but Charlton and Wigan lose.
Sheffield United and West Ham United were the teams who did themselves most favours in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premiership. Wigan Athletic and Charlton Athletic will be feeling most despondent when they look at the Premiership table and consider their future.
West Ham United inflicted a crushing 3-0 defeat on fellow relegation strugglers Wigan Athletic and while they are still in the relegation zone they are level on points with Wigan who have been in freefall for a number of weeks. A goal after half an hour from Boa Morte set them on their way and two second half goals ensured their convincing win. That's made it an excellent couple of days for West Ham who were relieved to be let off with a fine when the punishment was handed out over their signing of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano in the summer.
Sheffield United only managed one goal against already relegated Watford but it lifted them three places and three points away from the drop zone. It was an own goal just on half-time by Watford's experienced defender, Chris Powell, which settled the matter.
Charlton Athletic will be disappointed to have suffered such a heavy defeat at Blackburn Rovers. The game was scoreless at half-time and although Rovers took the lead after an hour, Charlton drew level ten minutes later. However, three goals in the last thirteen minutes saw them remain in the relegation place, two points behind West Ham in nineteenth position.
Fulham are still deep in trouble having lost at Arsenal. They remain only a point above West Ham and Wigan and manager Lawrie Sanchez knows that he needs to save Fulham from relegation to have any chance of being offered the managerial role at Craven Cottage next season. With a home game against Champions League semi-finalists, Liverpool, next weekend and a final day trip to Middlesbrough who are not yet completely safe after losing at home to Tottenham Hotspur in a five goal thriller, Fulham could be relying on other teams to slip up, if they are to retain their Premiership place.
Coming fixtures:
With two matches remaining none of the clubs can relax - West Ham are at home to Bolton next Saturday and then finish at Old Trafford, while Charlton have a home derby against Tottenham and then travel to Liverpool. Sheffield United play Aston Villa next Saturday and then finish with a home game against fellow strugglers Wigan who entertain Middlesbrough in their next match.
Many twists and turns will have to be negotiated before the final two relegation places are filled – it will be a tense final Premiership Sunday on 13th May.
