Who will go down?

[Fezza]

Personally speaking I think we want to keep the teams below us, below us, so I just about favour a win for Newcastle. If we beat Brum at the weekend we'll then be 5 points clear of them and looking pretty safe. Very close call though and maybe a draw would be best.

Unsporting I know but I'm after a nil nil with injuries to McFadden and Owen. To be honest I'd rather Newcastle won as I think only KK can get them relegated and thier form would improve with another manager!

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Really not looking good for Bolton:

Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen will miss the rest of the season because of a back problem picked up in the warm-up against Sporting Lisbon on 6 March.

It means the Finn, 32, may have played his last game for Bolton as he is out of contract at the end of the season.

Trotters boss Gary Megson, who is using Ali Al Habsi as cover in goal, told the club website: "Jussi needs six weeks of rest to try to resolve this problem.

"He needs some form of surgery. Either way, his season is over."

[JC]

Birmingham do not have an easy run. They have 4 home games after tonight against Man City, Everton, Liverpool and Blackburn. I can't see many points there. Their 4 away games are us, Wigan, Villa and Fulham so they could have a real struggle

[BR2]

Really not looking good for Bolton:

Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen will miss the rest of the season because of a back problem picked up in the warm-up against Sporting Lisbon on 6 March.

It means the Finn, 32, may have played his last game for Bolton as he is out of contract at the end of the season.

Trotters boss Gary Megson, who is using Ali Al Habsi as cover in goal, told the club website: "Jussi needs six weeks of rest to try to resolve this problem.

"He needs some form of surgery. Either way, his season is over."

The only thing in Bolton's favour is their ability to scrap which they have shown time and again in the past and don't forget they beat Man Utd earlier in the season.
A win by any of us near the bottom is major at this time of year and whereas Fulham have been written off for months their win yesterday keeps them in with a fighting chance.
We really do need to be on our game during this next fortnight otherwise we will still be in great danger and IMHO we are far from being out of the woods yet.

[RoyalBlue]

Personally speaking I think we want to keep the teams below us, below us, so I just about favour a win for Newcastle. If we beat Brum at the weekend we'll then be 5 points clear of them and looking pretty safe. Very close call though and maybe a draw would be best.

Unsporting I know but I'm after a nil nil with injuries to McFadden and Owen. To be honest I'd rather Newcastle won as I think only KK can get them relegated and thier form would improve with another manager!

Only two injuries?!! I was after a mass brawl as well - at least two from either side sent off for violent conduct!!

[Stranded]

Really not looking good for Bolton:

Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen will miss the rest of the season because of a back problem picked up in the warm-up against Sporting Lisbon on 6 March.

It means the Finn, 32, may have played his last game for Bolton as he is out of contract at the end of the season.

Trotters boss Gary Megson, who is using Ali Al Habsi as cover in goal, told the club website: "Jussi needs six weeks of rest to try to resolve this problem.

"He needs some form of surgery. Either way, his season is over."

The only thing in Bolton's favour is their ability to scrap which they have shown time and again in the past and don't forget they beat Man Utd earlier in the season.
A win by any of us near the bottom is major at this time of year and whereas Fulham have been written off for months their win yesterday keeps them in with a fighting chance.
We really do need to be on our game during this next fortnight otherwise we will still be in great danger and IMHO we are far from being out of the woods yet.

They don't seem to have that fight at the moment, esp if yesterday's performance is any thing to go by. They did indeed beat Man U earlier in the season but that was with a goal by a certain N.Anelka - who despite leaving the club two months ago has still scored twice as many goals for the club this season than the next leading scorer.

Looking at their games since us they've lost 1-0 to Pompey, 4-1 to Blackburn, 3-1 to Liverpool and 1-0 to Wigan. 4 straight defeats, likely to soon be 5 given the trip to OT this week. They almost seem to be heading on a run similar to our recent one but as it's later in the season, it could well be terminal.

[Ginger Ninjas]

Saturday, 05 April 2008

Arsenal v Liverpool, 15:00
Aston Villa v Bolton, 15:00
Blackburn v Tottenham, 15:00
Fulham v Sunderland, 15:00
Newcastle v Reading, 15:00
Wigan v Birmingham, 15:00

Could be the critical day in the relegation battle

It's all terribly exciting, isn't it?!

[East Stand Royal 500]

Only two injuries?!! I was after a mass brawl as well - at least two from either side sent off for violent conduct!!

Mmm ... doesn't that depend on who is playing whom in the ensuing games? Straight reds to Newcastle players keep them out of the next games against Fulham, Tottenham and Reading. Straight reds to Birmingham players would keep them out of Reading, Man City and Wigan. I think straight reds for the Newcastle players but second bookables for the Birmingham players.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Now that's breakin' it down!

[Wycombe Royal]

I think straight reds for the Birmingham players but second bookables for the Birmingham players.

Well make your mind up. So which is it?

[Fezza]

Have to say the games against Brum and Newcastle are the biggest for us this season, ignore the games v's Fulham and Derby as I think it'll pretty much all be over by then!

[T.R.O.L.I.]

Have to say the games against Brum and Newcastle are the biggest for us this season, ignore the games v's Fulham and Derby as I think it'll pretty much all be over by then!

Considering the Fulham game is the week after the Newcastle game, I'd say it's slightly premature to ignore that game...

[Only one Trevor Morley]

Try as I might I cant seem to relegate us on the predictor...

I had a scenario where the only points we pick up are 3 against Fulham and Derby and one against Spurs and we still stay up by a point from Fulham and Bolton

I think Bolton will go down and that Wigan/Fulham fight it out for the other spot...

[brendywendy]

Try as I might I cant seem to relegate us on the predictor...

I had a scenario where the only points we pick up are 3 against Fulham and Derby and one against Spurs and we still stay up by a point from Fulham and Bolton

I think Bolton will go down and that Wigan/Fulham fight it out for the other spot...

wigan are on a roll and havent conceded in over 6 hours of football

[79Royal]

If we win four out of eight, we're are comfortably safe. We should be able to beat Birmingham (H), Fulham (H) and Derby (A). That may even be enough.

We then need to win one or draw a couple from:

Blackburn (H)
Newcastle (A)
Wigan (A)
Arsenal (A)
Spurs (H)

I'm still cautious though as I've seen us balls it all up before.

[Gordons Cumming]

I think we will go to Newcastle and not lose.

[79Royal]

I think we will go to Newcastle and not lose.

I'm beginning to think we can win that one, although with it still being a few weeks away, Newcastle might have found some form by then.

[East Stand Royal 500]

I think straight reds for the Birmingham players but second bookables for the Birmingham players.

Well make your mind up. So which is it?

Sorry - typo straight reds for Newcastle players keeps them out until we have played them.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

I think straight reds for the Birmingham players but second bookables for the Birmingham players.

Well make your mind up. So which is it?

Sorry - typo straight reds for Newcastle players keeps them out until we have played them.

...and the funny thing is, I read it the way it was meant, and my praise was thoroughly sincere.

[Wax Jacket]

I'm with 79 royal, I think three wins might well turn out to be enough but I think we'll go well past that and stay up by what will look like a fairly ocmfortable margin in the end. I think we'll have got at least 7 points from the next 4 matches before we play Arsenal, another three points from the last three matches would be a decent end to the season really.