EXTRA TIME

Four points, nine teams

March 31, 2023 at 5:46 am Leave a comment

The Premier League is back after the international break this weekend with ten rounds to go and it looks set for its tightest relegation battle ever this season with almost half of its clubs in danger of the drop. Just four points are separating nine teams: Southampton in 20th and Crystal Palace in 12th.

Aston Villa, ranking eleventh in the table, is already safe: they are eleven points ahead of Crystal Palace where Roy Hodgson has again returned to managing at the age of 75, following the sacking of Patrick Vieira.

“Never before has the league seen its bottom nine clubs so bunched at such a crucial juncture in the season,” Chris Sutton writes in the Daily Mail. There are currently just four points between 12th-placed Crystal Palace and 20th-placed Southampton – the fewest amount of points ever separating the bottom nine teams in the Premier League at this stage of a season.

It has been said of lots of the teams down there that they are “too good to go down, but three must go”, and with nine teams in the mix the question of relegation looks set to go down to the final day.

Sutton offers his assessment of each side’s survival hopes with his worryometer ahead of a dramatic final few months with ten rounds and some additional fixtures which have been postponed to play.

That’s what the pundit has to say on West Ham United and their opponents on Sunday:

18th: West Ham Utd – 24 points

“David Moyes is probably sick of hearing how close he is to the sack. One loss can be the end of you and West Ham’s next game against Southampton is as big as they come. Moyes knows the pressure he is under.

“Third bottom in the Premier League, West Ham are another team who cannot buy a win away from home. They have been relying on the London Stadium, but the atmosphere could turn ugly if they lose to Southampton. Still, I expect West Ham to survive.”

20th: Southampton – 23 points

“Saints were right to get rid of Nathan Jones (who succeeded Ralph Hasenhüttl). He was only in charge for three months – and that included the World Cup – but they are still trying to bounce back from the damage.

“Ruben Selles has taken over and picked up a few nice results, including a 1-0 win at Chelsea. They need bravery and to take risks if they are to survive. Ultimately, I think they have too much to do and that’s why my worryometer is off the charts.”

With so many clubs and their managers, staff, players and supporters in fear of relegation, it’s quite fitting that in Nicky Gumbel’s Bible in One Year today’s passages are under the heading: “How to Overcome Your Fears” (Psalm 39:1-13).

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