End is in sight for West Ham as Wolves win
Last week, we predicted that the expected absence of Football Writers' Association player of the year Scott Parker for West Ham's vital clash with Blackburn meant that their days in the Premier League are numbered and there's even more writing on the wall after a disastrous weekend.
The England midfielder missed out, the Irons failed to make the most of several chances and other scores refused to go their way - though the time for relying on favours from elsewhere has long passed - as Wigan and Blackpool earned impressive away points and Wolves beat West Brom.
The consequence is that they are four points from safety with two games to go and are now in a position where two wins may not even be enough. If Wolves triumph at Sunderland on Saturday, they will be all but relegated before even travelling to fellow strugglers Wigan on the Sunday.
As a result, Avram Grant's side are clear favourites for the drop at [1.12], a price so low that the verdict of punters appears to be that not even the anticipated return of Parker can save them now.
Perhaps the most interesting development over the weekend though is that Wolves have gone all the way out to [2.9] to go down despite the fact that they have fallen back into the bottom three a week later on each of the two previous occasions in which they have clawed out of the danger zone.
Instead, Blackpool ([1.3]) and Wigan ([1.5]) are predicted to join West Ham in the Championship, with the Latics' lay price of [1.51] intriguing given their run of two losses in seven and closing fixtures against West Ham and a Stoke team that could be emotionally exhausted after the FA Cup Final.
Which three clubs will tumble? Share your views in the box below...
Published: 9 May 2011
Leave a comment