English Premier League Final Day Preview

Heading into the final day of the most exciting league in the world and with the title decided already, the focus shifts to the other end of the table where five teams are battling relegation.

With a drop of £30 million in revenue for clubs that get relegated from the richest league in the world, the incentive to stay up is massive.

Blackburn Rovers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham, Blackpool, and Wigan are the teams fighting for their lives in the following matches:

Wolverhampton Wanderers  v  Blackburn Rovers
Tottenham Hotspur  v  Birmingham
Manchester United  v  Blackpool
Stoke City  v  Wigan Athletic

Both Blackburn and Wolves are on 40 points, with the other three teams on 39. There are various permutations to what could happen but here is my prediction.

As Wolves have a far less superior goal difference to Blackburn, a draw would not do them any good if two of the other three teams win. Given their current form coming off two wins and with Blackburn having only drawn their last two, I am going for a Wolves win at the Molineux.

Despite having supported Blackburn when my idol Alan Shearer wore their colours, I would love to see them go down as I believe the new owners, Venky’s, have made poor decisions ever since taking over in late 2010.

Regardless of the outcome of that Wolves vs Blackburn match, I reckon the two teams joining West Ham in the Championship next year will be Birmingham and Blackpool.

Although Wigan at present are below Birmingham and Blackpool by goal difference, 2 and 1 respectively, they will have too much for Stoke come Sunday. Roberto Martinez’s men are on a three match unbeaten run, coming off draws against Everton and Aston Villa, and an excellent comeback win over West Ham which put the nail in the Hammers’ coffin. Stoke on the other hand, are coming off two losses to Manchester City in the FA Cup Final and the penultimate match of the season. Tony Pulis’ men have nothing to play for and will be looking forward to their holidays before starting their journey in the Europa League next season.

Wigan came away with win at Sheffield United four years ago, saving themselves from relegation and sending the Blades down. Although that was under Paul Jewell, some of the players still at the club will have that invaluable experience to call upon.

Even a draw would be enough to save Wigan as I am predicting losses for Birmingham and Blackpool.

Birmingham will be travelling to White Hart Lane to face a team eager to confirm their place in the Europa League next year as Spurs are only one point ahead of Liverpool in that fifth spot. Van der Vaart, if fit, will send the Blues packing.

There was talk that Sir Alex Ferguson would rest his stars for next week’s Champions League final vs Barcelona but he has declared a number of first-teamers will be playing against Blackpool. Ferguson has revealed that Edwin van der Sar, Anderson, Paul Scholes, Patrice Evra and Premier League joint-top scorer Dimitar Berbatov will be among those who feature at Old Trafford on Sunday. With this being Van der Sar’s final game before retiring and with Berbatov gunning to get ahead of Carlos Tevez in the race for the Golden Boot, the Red Devils will be sending the Seasiders straight back into the Championship.

So there you have it folks! Birmingham and Blackpool to join West Ham in the Championship, whilst I reckon Swansea will be strutting their stuff in the EPL next season along with QPR and Norwich. Oh, and Berbatov to win the Golden Boot ahead of Tevez, just.

See you all next season!