In the last two months of every Barclays Premier League season, as with almost every major European league, there are always four distinct mini-battles among the league teams. The race for the title, the race for the Champions League, the race for the Europa League, and the race to avoid relegation.
With Chelsea having won the English Premiership League (EPL) title with three games to spare, Arsenal and Manchester United qualifying for the Champions league by week 35, and Liverpool playing like they want nothing to do with the Europa League, all that is left in terms of final day drama is who retains their premier league status. QPR and Burnley have already exited the top flight; Sunderland and Aston Villa have mathematically avoided relegation. It is essentially now a shootout between Hull City and Newcastle United.
Let’s examine each of the teams and their chances of staying up.
Newcastle United:
Points: 36
Goal Difference: -25
Current position: 17th
Final day opponents: West Ham
Current form: LLLLDL
Why they will be relegated:
Newcastle’s slide down the table in the second half of this premier league season can only be measured in the rate of knots. It’s been an absolute free fall. Mike Ashley, club owner, pulled the trigger on Alan Pardew, and in typical unambitious fashion, settled for John Carver, who looks to be absolutely clueless and out of his depth.
They have the poorest current form in the league, and the players look utterly disinterested. Goals are at a premium, and Carver looks to have lost the dressing room. West Ham have recently been playing like they are on vacation, but Allardyce will want to remind the West Ham power brokers why he is still the right man for the job. Ultimately, Newcastle cannot win for love nor money at the moment and regulars at the St. Mary’s know this could be their last game in the elite division for a while.
Why they will stay up:
They have a two point advantage going into the final game against West Ham so anything short of a Hull City win, will see them stay up. Also, opponents West Ham haven’t been up to much recently, so they just might be able to eke out a point. Finally, in Papiss Cisse they just might have enough firepower to find the goals they need to get some sort of positive result in this game.
Hull City:
Points: 34
Goal difference: -18
Position: 18th
Final Day Opponents: Manchester United
Current Form: LWWLLL
Why they will be relegated:
To be honest, Hull City look like a Championship team, they kit up like a Championship team, and their stadium name rings like a Championship stadium.
With Huddlestone out of sorts at the moment, and Livermore on suspension for using cocaine, everything isn’t at all rosy at the KC Stadium at this time. And guess what? Their final day opponent are Manchester United, full of players who are fighting to stay at the club.
The Red Devils might not have had a stellar campaign but on their day, they have enough to blow Hull City right into the second tier. They also have the distinct disadvantage of being two points behind Newcastle, meaning a win, and only a win will do. Finally, apart from their two wing-backs who are experts at crossing the ball, Hull City has little else in terms of creativity.
Why they will stay up:
With two wins recently, including difficult games against Crystal Palace and Liverpool, Hull City unlike Newcastle, still remember what it feels like to finish a game with all three points. And they have shown in games this season against Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool that they won’t just show up to get beaten.
Nikita Jelavic is back in the first XI, and N’Doye has been a bit impressive since his move. Manchester United knows that only a miracle will see them finish higher than Arsenal on the table, so motivation might be absent for the Red Devils in this game.
Also, should Hull City win this game while Newcastle only manage a draw, they stay up due to their superior goal difference. Lastly, manager Steve Bruce used to wear the colours of Manchester United as a player. Maybe they’ll do the old boy a favour and throw the game.
Both games kick off on Sunday May 24 at 15:00 Nigerian Time.
Adedamola Obisesan
