The race to stay in the premier league enters the homestretch, with six teams fighting to finish above the relegation zone. With just five games to the end of the Premier League, rock bottom Norwich seems to have resigned to fate. An early opener on Tuesday evening saw the Canaries lose to fellow relegation-threatened Watford 2-1.
Emi Buendia struck in the fourth minute to put Daniel Farke’s charges ahead, only for Craig Dawson to head home an equalizer from close range. Norwich is just a defeat away from dropping down the ladder, and their next game against West Ham might be a formality after all.
Bournemouth and Aston Villa are the other two relegation candidates, making up the four teams that are viciously fighting for survival in the top flight.
There are still 12 points still to play for, and teams will be pushing for maximum points.
Who graces the Championship next season?
Well, let’s find out!
Norwich: The Canaries are all but gone!
A loss to West Ham will finally rubber stamp Norwich’s relegation from the top-flight. On a night when they found the back of the net first, the Canaries could not hold on to their lead. They let Craig Dawson sneak in an equalizer before Danny Welbeck squeezed in a spectacular goal for a match decider.
Already they have lost 23 games, one shy of their highest lost games in the top flight. With four more games to the end of the season, Norwich looks like it will be losing more, breaking its record set in the Championship in 2008-09 campaign.
Will Aston Villa hold on to the last day?
Dean Smith is pretty aware of the job he’s got in his hands. He told BBC that many people had written them off, but believes they can pull a surprise and keep their Premier League spot.
Villa got their way back to the top league through the playoffs.
Nonetheless, that didn’t hinder them from making mercurial signings, spending huge on whoever was comfortable to play at Villa Park.
They’ve had an underwhelming season. Not even their Carabao Cup final match can be redemption for what has been an awful season. Villa visits West Ham on the last day and would need to be at their bests to see off a resolute Hammers side.
Their next assignment is against Manchester United, a team that’s currently on 15 matches winning streak- and gunning for a top-four finish.
Will Bournemouth stay around for some time?
It’s been almost a month since the gun went up for the start of the race. However, Bournemouth hasn’t moved an inch yet, only mustering a point in their last four games.
And it’s even hard to imagine that this is the Bournemouth side with Joshua King and Dan Gosling. The duo was netting in winners for Eddie Howe’s side earlier in the season against top teams like Chelsea and Manchester United.
They come up against Jose Mourinho’s side on Thursday and will be away to Everton in the last match of the season.
Like Norwich, Bournemouth looks like it’s already gone.
