Louis Spence's Premier League Preview || Premiership Showdowns

PREMIERSHIP SHOWDOWNS 6-5-08
Louis Spence

Next Sunday will see if odds-on favourites Manchester United can finish off Wigan Athletic to claim the Premiership title once again.

Failure to do so would almost certainly hand the title to Chelsea who should have little trouble in beating a Bolton side now clear of relegation worries. My money is on United to finish the job in style.

The current odds to win the Premiership are:
Manchester United 2/9
Chelsea 4/1

The fascinating relegation battle that has raged all season also goes to the wire next Sunday.

Having ensured their safety in the last two matches, Boro, Sunderland, Wigan and Bolton can now breathe easily. Hallelujah.

This leaves three clubs desperately battling to avoid the eighteenth and nineteenth places which would mean relegation back to the Championship. Sadly for the participants, three into two does go here.

Birmingham with 32 points and a (-19) goal difference entertain Blackburn, a side who are hard to beat. They have lost only nine of 37 matches this term. As such, I cannot see Birmingham getting the win I suspect they will need. Squeaky Brum time indeed.

Fulham with 33 points and a (-23) goal difference go to Cup Finalists Portsmouth. I simply cannot see Pompey being complacent enough to lose this fixture (which would mean two in a row), despite the call of the Cup.

Reading with 33 points and a (-29) goal difference travel to relegated Derby. Owing to their position, Steve Coppell knows he has to attack and I think they will emerge triumphant over a lamentable Derby side.

Of course these fixtures could go any way but I think that Reading will escape by being the only winner of the three. Having tipped Fulham to go down at the start of the season, I am sticking with that prediction.

Heart stopping moments are guaranteed as no doubt results will fluctuate throughout the ninety minutes of drama, heartache and relief for the committed fans.

Current betting for relegation is:
Birmingham 1/6
Reading 5/7
Fulham 4/5

Having sealed their Premiership places for next year, WBA and Stoke can now relax and watch the fascinating play-off fixtures to see who will accompany them.

Hull City (3rd) will play Watford (6th) and Bristol City (4th) face Crystal Palace (5th).

Owing to their recent successful run, Palace (led by Warnock - AARGH!!) look to be the most fancied to progress. Watford, who have stuttered to the final play-off place having started the season so brightly, are now looking the underdogs.

Current betting for promotion is:
Palace 2/1
Hull 13/5
Bristol City 4/1
Watford 9/2

Whichever team emerges triumphant from the four deserves the chance to join the top flight which has a notorious record of relegating newbies one season later. Derby and probably Birmingham are likely to keep this recent run going.

West Brom's boss, Boro legend Tony Mowbray, has vowed to play attacking football. It is laudable thinking, however the realities of facing prolific strikers week in week out may lead to a more pragmatic style of play as survival will be the name of the game.

Stoke City and the play-offs winner will also be entering a harsh unforgiving environment and once again I can see at least two of the incoming three being demoted. It is a sad and sobering fact but good news for the current crop who seemingly keep their status by default.

If I am proved right on this, it means in effect the incumbent seventeen clubs are playing to avoid one relegation place and those are good odds by anybody's reckoning.

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Louis Spence.

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