Who's Going Down? A Look at the Premier League's Relegation Candidates

More and more teams who looked safe are being dragged into the relegation dogfight and now five teams are separated by just two points as they fight to avoid the final relegation spot. So, who's going down? Who's staying up? Let's have a look...

With the title race this season being short on excitement and drama, the bottom of the table seems to be doing its best to make up for it.

More and more teams who looked safe are being dragged into the relegation dogfight and now five teams are separated by just two points as they fight to avoid the final relegation spot.

So, who's going down? Who's staying up? Let's have a look...

6. QPR and Burnley

Even in this mad, chaotic season, these two have left themselves too much to do to save themselves. Seven and eight points from safety respectively, they'd need to win all three of their remaining games while hoping for absolute miracles elsewhere. Start gearing up for the Championship, guys.

5. Sunderland

If you'd asked me this time last week, I'd have said that Sunderland were all-but down. Since then, they've fought to an impressive win over Southampton and now sit just a point from safety, with a game in hand over all of their relegation rivals.

The Southampton game was something of an anomaly, though - Sunderland's problem is goalscoring. They won on Saturday thanks to two penalties, which was the first time since January that they'd managed to score twice in one game. If Connor Wickham or Jermaine Defoe can get on a hot streak, they have a chance.

They haven't gathered much support with neutrals, though. Something to do with still playing Adam Johnson, despite the winger being charged with sex offences, including grooming a 15-year-old girl.

4. Hull

Steve Bruce and co must be looking back at their last week and a half and feeling more than a little cheesed off. Before Monday night's crushing defeat at the hands of Arsenal, they'd managed to beat Crystal Palace away and Liverpool at home within four days - that's the kind of thing that you'd hope would give you a bit of leeway in a relegation battle.

Instead, everyone else has starting winning too and Hull are still right in the thick of it, just a point from safety. Their next match is absolutely crucial, as they welcome Burnley to the KC Stadium. After that, their final two games are against Spurs and Manchester United, who should present slightly sterner tests.

3. Leicester City

Leicester have provided some of the best moments of this season and they've managed to get a lot of neutrals on-side. Of course, this isn't an election and the support will mean nothing if they can't do the job on the pitch, but their recent form makes them among the favourites to stay up.

A truly astonishing five wins from their last six games - only defeated by runaway champions Chelsea - has lifted the Foxes from the bottom of the table up into 16th place. Their run-in looks easier than many, as they prepare to host Southampton, before a trip to Sunderland and the visit of troubled QPR on the last day of the season.

Against all the odds, it looks like the great escape might be on. Besides, could we cope with a Nigel Pearson-less Premier League?

2. Newcastle United

Newcastle fans, I'm curious - do you even remember what it's like not to lose a football match? It's been more than two months for you guys and some of us are starting to get worried about you.

John Carver's Magpies are deep in the brown stuff. There have been a lot of low points and it's hard to decide which is worse. Was it the Swansea game, where Newcastle went 1-0 up but played like they were 3-0 down? Was it the derby, where a lifeless performance saw them lose to Sunderland yet again? Was it last weekend, where Leicester took the lead after a minute and Carver accused Mike Williamson of getting sent off deliberately?

One little sliver of hope: Newcastle only have to play West Brom, QPR and West Ham. Even in this form, that's a run-in with a few points on offer.

1. Aston Villa

Tim Sherwood FC are staying up. The belief is there, they have a free three points in the form of a home game against Burnley, they're in form and they've got Tim Sherwood in charge. What could go wrong?

Villa's problem all season has been the supply of goals, but that problem has been well and truly Sherwooded. Averaging two goals a game since the start of last month, this is now a side firing on all cylinders.

Not only will they stay up - there's also half a chance they'll pinch the FA Cup too. Love him or hate him, Sherwood's turned the ship around brilliantly at Villa Park.

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