Who Will Avoid The Drop?

So who is going to end up going down? Watford at 20 points looks like a given for the drop. But with only 5 points separating West Ham United from safety and a mere point from Charlton and Wigan in the safety zone, we still may see Sheffield United (3 points clear) or Wigan going down to the Championship (division 2) next year. So who is going to end up going down? Watford at 20 points looks like a given for the drop. But with only 5 points separating West Ham United from safety and a mere point from Charlton and Wigan in the safety zone, we still may see Sheffield United (3 points clear) or Wigan going down to the Championship (division 2) next year. Charlton Charlton have 3 wins and a tie since they're 2-0 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford in February. With only a game left against Sheffield United, they won't be able to directly influence as much as others. And closing out the season against Blackburn (away), Tottenham and at Liverpool won't make it easy at the end. But if Pardew can save them it'll make for some juicy irony with his ex-employers West Ham the most likely to be relegated of this group. Charlton's remaining games : @ Man City April 6th Reading April 9th @ Everton April 14th Sheff Utd April 21st @ Blackburn April 28th Tottenham May 7th @ Liverpool May 13th Sheffield United Sheffield United hasn't won since 2-1 over Tottenham on Feb. 10. With their loss today and Charlton's 1-0 win over Wigan, they're only a point clear of the drop as much as the others. But they have the easiest schedule as the season closes. If they get the job done, especially at Charlton, they can ensure their own safety. Even though they're only a point clear now, they could find themselves being the ones sending Wigan down when they host them on the last day of the season. Sheffield United's remaining games : Newcastle April 7th West Ham April 14th @ Man Utd April 17th @ Charlton April 21st Watford April 28th @ Aston Villa April 5th Wigan April 13th West Ham It hasn't looked like West Ham's year including a recent 4-0 loss to relegation rivals Charlton. Bringing in Curbishley hasn't exactly righted the ship. But a few results, including today's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough has given them a chance at avoiding the drop. But it's going to be tight. And with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United plus European hopefuls Everton and Bolton still to come their fate may be sealed by the outcome of their travels to Wigan on April 28th. And in the case of West Ham that fate still looks like a trip back down to the Championship. West Ham's remaining games : @ Arsenal April 7th @ Sheff Utd April 14th Chelsea April 18th Everton April 21st @ Wigan April 28th Bolton May 5th @ Man Utd May 13th Wigan With some results they looked like as though they could climb away from the pack at the bottom. But a few results from West Ham and Charlton, including their loss to Charlton at The Valley today have seen them become involved in the relegation fight again. But their schedule to close the season out is arguably the easiest of the bunch. If they don't get the job done before then, they may find themselves traveling to Bramall Lane on the last day of the season with their premiership future on line. Depending on how things play out the next few weeks, their hosts Sheffield United may be fighting for their own survival on the last day too. Wigan's remaining games : Bolton April 7th @ Aston Villa April 9th Tottenham April 15th @ Liverpool April 21st West Ham April 28th Middlesbrough May 5th @ Sheff Utd May 13th