With 12 games to play, there is still real fascination to be had by following the fortunes of the Premier League’s forgotten entities, the clubs without the quality of the top three or top six – or the sympathy and storyline of Derby – and who are about to embark upon a mini-league at the bottom to determine which two of them will be joining County in the Championship come August.

Despite Damien Duff’s experience-induced caution, it is extremely unlikely that Newcastle United will face the drop. They are seven points above Reading, with seven teams below them in the table. Below the Magpies, though, the relegation scrap will be all-engulfing.

Derby, sad though it is, are down. But despite a growing discourse to the contrary, the same is not true of Fulham. The Cottagers, in 19th, are a mere four points from Sunderland in 14th, and let us not forget it is only February. Bolton, Wigan, Birmingham and Reading sit between them currently, and it is these six clubs who are likely to be fighting to the death as April turns to May.

‘For Alex McLeish and Birmingham, the pressure is cranking up. But there are points there for the taking if City can improve their home form against teams in mid-table.’


Of course, with the teams so closely matched at this stage in the season, their respective run-ins will be of paramount importance.

Starting at the foot of the mini-league, Fulham have a tough March before a few of those fabled six-pointers towards the end of the season. They face West Ham away and then Manchester United, Blackburn, Everton and Newcastle. Roy Hodgson’s men also have key games against Sunderland and Reading in April and a monumental fixture at home to Birmingham City on the penultimate day of the season.

Reading face Villa and Middlesbrough in their next two games, and they must still go to Anfield and the Emirates, as well as facing Wigan, Fulham and Birmingham. In fairness Steve Coppell’s men will have already pencilled in their winnable home games, most likely their match with Manchester City, and those against their relegation rivals.

For Alex McLeish and Birmingham, the pressure is cranking up. But there are points there for the taking if City can improve their home form against teams in mid-table. They host Tottenham, their victims earlier in the season, as well as Newcastle and Blackburn. The battle for fourth may affect them, but the Blues should be masters of their destiny with trips to Reading, Wigan and Fulham awaiting them.

At the JJB, Steve Bruce will be desperate to pick up momentum after losing a vital match at Sunderland. Wigan are yet to visit Stamford Bridge this season, and have an unfavourable last day outing, hosting Manchester United who may be embroiled in a sprint to the title. The Latics also face Bolton, Birmingham and Reading – all at home.

Gary Megson’s Bolton are still in the UEFA Cup, and so face at least two more games than their immediate rivals. But it’s the Premier League fixture list which will terrify the former Leicester boss. Bolton still have matches to come against the three title contenders, plus Liverpool, Villa and Manchester City as they fight it out for fourth. Bolton will be hoping Villa or City drop out of that contest sooner rather than later, or matches against Wigan and Sunderland will take on immeasurable meaning.

From 14th place, Sunderland simply need to win their head-to-heads with the bottom seven and pick up a few extra points along the way. They play Fulham and Bolton, but Chelsea and Arsenal also approach, with the Gunners having a say on 11th May

Two of these sides will join Derby in the big drop. Clearly Reading and Fulham are in big trouble, but the number of relegation ‘six-pointers’ in the offing should make for an enthralling race. Wigan and Sunderland will not look forward to the final day, but Bolton, as well as facing extra matches, have an extremely tough 12 league matches to come.

Gary Megson and Steve Coppell arguably require a healthy share of fortune.