Source: Daily_Mail
Ups and downs: Sportsmail's guide to the Premier League basement battle
It's squeaky bum time down at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League with just three games to go.[LNB]Wigan are the only team in the bottom half of the table who are mathematically safe from relegation as the 2008-09 season enters the final straight. [LNB]Both Bolton and Stoke should survive regardless of their final three results, but the remaining seven clubs face a nervous final few weeks.[LNB]Here's Sportsmail's guide to the relegation run-in.[LNB]Baggies' key man: Greening (top)[LNB]20th - WEST BROMRemaining fixtures: May 9 - Wigan (h); May 17 - Liverpool (h); May 24 - Blackburn (a)[LNB]Form - LDLWL[LNB]Key man - Jonathan Greening[LNB]Sportsmail verdict - defeat at White Hart Lane last weekend effectively killed off West Brom's chances of Premier League survival. They now need to win all three remaining games to have any chance of staying up. Too much to ask for Tony Mowbray's brave Baggies.[LNB]Prediction - GOING DOWN[LNB]19th - MIDDLESBROUGHRemaining fixtures: May 11 - Newcastle (a); May 16 - Aston Villa (h); May 24 - West Ham (a)[LNB]Form - LWDLL[LNB]Key man - Tuncay[LNB]Sportsmail verdict - Boro's strikers must start firing if they're to have any chance of survival. The club's ten-year stay in the Premier League will surely come to an end if they fail to win at Newcastle on Monday in what promises to be a nerve-wracking night. Anything other than three points at St James' Park for Gareth Southgate's men will ensure they can look forward to Oakwell and not Old Trafford next season.[LNB]Prediction - GOING DOWN[LNB] 18th - NEWCASTLE UNITEDRemaining fixtures: May 11 - Middlesbrough (h); May 16 - Fulham (h); May 24 - Aston Villa (a)[LNB]Form - LDLDL[LNB]Key man - Michael Owen[LNB]Sportsmail verdict - the form of those around them suggests maximum points from their two home games should be enough to preserve Newcastle's Premier League status. But there was a worrying lack of confidence, desire and passion against Liverpool on Sunday and Alan Shearer must spend the rest of the week trying to lift his players ahead of Monday's massive game against Boro.[LNB]Prediction - STAYING UP[LNB] Getting shirty: Michael Owen (left) and Herman Hreidarsson battle it out at St James'[LNB]17th - HULL CITYRemaining fixtures: May 9 - Stoke (h); May 16 - Bolton (a); May 24 - Man United (h)[LNB]Form - DLLLL[LNB]Key man - George Boateng[LNB]Sportsmail verdict - one win in 19 Premier League games - and a fortunate one at that - tells its own story. On recent form, Hull don't lool like collecting another point, but their one saving grace is that Newcastle and Boro are three points adrift and equally bereft of confidence and quality.[LNB]Prediction - GOING DOWN[LNB]16th - SUNDERLAND We're doomed unless we win our home games, claims Newcastle's OwenThe Best Bosmans: Sportsmail's guide to Europe's leading out-of-contract players MARTIN SAMUEL: Forget the quick fix... Shearer's duty is to build a new NewcastleExpensive flop Afonso heading for Middlesbrough exit after woeful scoring return Remaining fixtures: May 9 - Bolton (a); May 18 - Portsmouth (a); May 24 - Chelsea (h)[LNB]Form - LLWLL[LNB]Key man - Djibril Cisse[LNB]Sportsmail verdict - dismal run of one win in ten has seen Sunderland slip down the table. If Newcastle win their home games and Hull can find three points from somewhere, Sunderland could be in serious trouble. They should just survive, but remaining fixtures are by no means straigtforward.[LNB]Prediction - STAYING UP[LNB]15th - BLACKBURN ROVERSRemaining fixtures: May 9 - Portsmouth (h); May 17 - Chelsea (a); May 24 - West Brom (h)[LNB]Form - WLLWL[LNB]Key man - Benni McCarthy[LNB]Sportsmail verdict - Big Sam has successfully cleaned up the mess left by Paul Ince and appears to have done enough. Still need another win to be mathematically safe, but home games look winnable.[LNB]Prediction - STAYING UP[LNB] Jumping for joy: Blackburn will be in the Premier League again next season[LNB]14th - PORTSMOUTHRemaining fixtures: May 9 - Blackburn (a); May 18 - Sunderland (h); May 24 - Wigan (a)[LNB]Form - DWLDL[LNB]Key man - David James[LNB]Sportsmail verdict - Portsmouth appear to have enough points on the board to ensure another season of Premier League football at Fratton Park, although a point at Ewood Park this weekend would be helpful.[LNB]Prediction - STAYING UP[LNB] We're doomed unless we win our home games, claims Newcastle's OwenThe Best Bosmans: Sportsmail's guide to Europe's leading out-of-contract players MARTIN SAMUEL: Forget the quick fix... Shearer's duty is to build a new NewcastleExpensive flop Afonso heading for Middlesbrough exit after woeful scoring return
