Dire struggle for bottom five

The struggle to avoid the drop in the Premier League now appears to be a tussle involving five clubs though Wolves already seem to be dead and buried. Their remaining fixtures read as follows:

Wolves (22 points)

A – Stoke (today)
H – Arsenal (April 11)
A – Sunderland (April 14)
H – Man. City (April 22)
A – Swansea (April 28)
H – Everton (May 6)
A – Wigan (May 13)

Wigan (28 points)

A – Chelsea (today)
H – Man. United (April 11)
A – Arsenal (April 16)
A – Fulham (April 21)
H – Newcastle (April 28)
A – Blackburn (May 7)
H – Wolves (May 13)

QPR (28 points)

A – Man. United (today)
H – Swansea (April 11)
A – West Brom (April 14)
H – Tottenham (April 21)
A – Chelsea (April 29)
H – Stoke (May 6)
A – Man. City (May 13)

Blackburn (28 points)

A – West Brom (today)
H – Liverpool (April 10)
A – Swansea (April 14)
H – Norwich (April 21)
A – Tottenham (April 29)
H – Wigan (May 7)
A – Chelsea (May 13)

Bolton (29 points)

H – Fulham (today)
A – Newcastle (April 9)
H – Swansea (April 21)
A – Aston Villa (April 24)
A – Sunderland (April 28)
H – Tottenham (May 2)
H – West Brom (May 6)
A – Stoke (May 13)

Four of these teams will play away this weekend – Stoke-Wolves, Chelsea-Wigan, Man. United-QPR and West Brom-Blackburn. The other fixture sees Bolton playing at home against Fulham.

After the mishap to Fabrice Muamba, it seems that Bolton have doubled up their efforts to remain in the Premier League. However, all clubs involved in the fight for survival will be on tenterhooks to do well, knowing how much cash they will lose if they play Championship football next season.

Now that daylight has widened to five points at the top following Manchester City’s draw at home to Sunderland and Manchester United’s away win at Blackburn, the Reds are in the driving seat.

Tomorrow, United can widen the gap if they beat strugglers QPR and the Blues fail to win at the Emirates against Arsenal.

The neutrals are backing United to retain the title and show that money cannot buy honours as Wayne Rooney admitted that winning the crown this season would be more special as they would have beaten their big rivals to the prize.

City boss Roberto Mancini stated this week that if his team fall eight points behind United tomorrow, then the title race would be over.

After their upset at QPR, Arsenal are now on the same points as Tottenham who beat Swansea in their last match.

This afternoon Spurs will be away at Sunderland with boss Harry Redknapp urging his boys to five more wins to secure a Champions League spot.

Fixtures and forecast

Premier League

Bolton-Fulham 1
Chelsea-Wigan 1
Liverpool-Aston Villa 1
Norwich City-Everton X
Stoke City-Wolves 18:30 1
Sunderland-Tottenham 13:45 X
West Brom-Blackburn1

Tomorrow:
Arsenal-Man. City 17:00 2
Man. Utd-QPR 14:30 1

The Championship

Birmingham-Crystal Palace 1
Coventry-Peterborough X
Derby County-Ipswich X
Leicester City-Doncaster 1
Middlesbrough-Cardiff 1
Millwall-Hull City 1
N. Forest-Bristol City 18:20 1
Southampton-P’mouth 14:00 1

League One

Brentford-Bury 1
Huddersfield-Sheff. Wed. 13:30 X
Oldham-Charlton2
Preston-MK Dons 2
Sheff. Utd-Bournemouth 1
Walsall-Chesterfield 1
Yeovil Town-Rochdale X

Hot Four

Chelsea, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Leicester City.