The Great Escape

With 35 games gone, four Premier League teams have 35 points or less. With three teams to be relegated, at least one of Blackpool, Wigan, Wolves and West Ham will survive. The bookies have every one of them as longer than evens to survive so who will pull off ‘The Great Escape?’

West Ham are currently rock bottom with 32 points and best odds of 11/4 with StanJames to survive. Already one win from safety, their only source of hope is their remaining fixtures, arguably the easiest of the four sides in greatest danger. A home game with Blackburn is followed by the ultimate ‘six-pointer’ at Wigan, before the Hammers return to Upton Park on the final day to face a Sunderland side with nothing to play for. Avram Grant believes that seven more points will see his side safe.

In 19th spot, with 34 points, are Wolverhampton Wanderers. Mick McCarthy’s side are 6/4 with VictorChandler to stay up and these odds will lengthen if they lose a crucial West Midlands derby at home to West Brom on Sunday. Steve Bruce’s Sunderland will then have a further say in the relegation run-in when Wolves head to the north-east, before Blackburn visit Molineux on the final day. If three points are sufficient at that point then McCarthy could do plenty worse for a final fixture.

Currently occupying the relegation zone on goal difference are Wigan Athletic - another 6/4 shot to survive with Victor, despite the additional point currently on the board. The reason for those unfavourable odds are presumably the two tricky away days still to come at Aston Villa and Stoke. The Latics will almost certainly need something from those games, even if they do condemn West Ham at the DW Stadium.

Finally, above the dreaded dotted line by just one goal, are neutrals’ favourites Blackpool. Ian Holloway’ side are 11/4 with bet365 to defy all the predictions that a side with such limited resources could never survive. Unfortunately, the season may end a month too late for the Tangerines who have kept their heads above water almost all season. Away trips to Tottenham, and Manchester United on the final day, definitely make Holloway’s pursuit of further points the hardest of all, at least on paper. The one remaining game at Bloomfield Road, against Bolton, looks like a must-win.

Fans of each team in the bottom four will be fraught with anxiety right now. But come May 22nd, at least one set will be jubilant.