Relegation Sunday

This Sunday brings one of the most anticipated days in football. Not because it brings glory or championships, rather because a few teams will earn salvation from the threatening cloud of relegation. West Bromwich will be unable to escape the trip down to the Championship, however four other teams are trying to avoid filling the remaining two spots. Middlesbrough appears to be in the most trouble, and the third spot is currently filled by Newcastle. Hull City and Sunderland are also in the danger zone.

Sunday will feature a plethora of twisting scenarios, mental tactics and intriguing plotlines. Will Alan Shearer be the savior of the Toon? Will Sunderland self-destruct even further?

How it breaks down: Sunderland and Hull City are in the best positions. They can both earn salvation with wins at Chelsea and Manchester United respectively. This may seem like a lofty task for both teams, but considering both Chelsea and Manchester United have major cup competitions within the next few weeks, their paths might be a little easier. Newcastle must win against Aston Villa and must score more goals than Hull City. Middlesbrough faces the toughest road back. They must win at West Ham, and then hope for Newcastle and Hull losses with a goal turnaround from Hull of at least five.

Hull City: Perhaps the most intriguing team, Hull City has fallen the furthest, and their game against Manchester United carries the most weight among the other teams facing relegation. Hull was third in the table in October and few could have imagined that the Tigers could have fallen that far. But after going 4-19 in 2009, the Tigers are facing the very real threat of relegation.  

Sunderland: Sunderland appeared safe after last week, but they self-destructed in a 3-1 loss to Portsmouth last week which included an own goal by Phil Bardsley. That loss was just the breaking point however. Sunderland has won only one of their last twelve games and has been in a slide all season. Even if they manage to escape relegation, manager Ricky Sbragia’s future is in serious doubt.

Newcastle: Newcastle is perhaps the most appealing story from a nuetral’s perspective. How romantic it would be for the Geordie saviour Alan Shearer to swoop in and lay down the law, bringing glory back to the Toon. The Magpies struggled all season, and Shearer’s impact might be too little too late at this point. Unlike Sunderland however, it looks like Newcastle is sticking with Shearer for the long haul.

Middlesbrough: Middlesbrough has the surest chance to join the Championship, however, they are the team that most needs to rebuild. They struggled all season under young Gareth Southgate, and are looking to sell star Stuart Downing in the off-season. That may be a little more difficult however, now that Downing suffered a broken foot during Boro’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.