Aston Villa fans will not fancy their sides chances against a resurgent Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, so may just need a favour from elsewhere.
Villa’s away point at West Brom last weekend, where they could easily have won all three had it not been for Ben Foster, could prove vital in their survival fight.
The best news of the weekend though, came from the Stadium of Light, where Bolton Wanderers were held to a 2-2 draw by home side Sunderland.
Had Bolton won and Villa lost, the sides would have been level on 36 points and the remaining games even more nerve racking than they are now.
Bolton blew another chance to pick up points last night, being rolled over 4-1 by a Tottenham Hotspur side which looked as though they had recovered the exciting football they played at the start of the year.
Villa fans won’t have happy memories of their trip to White Hart Lane this season, they barely turned up, and only the optimists will believe they can take three points from the weekend’s fixtures.
While unwise to write it off completely, fans may have more hope looking elsewhere this weekend, to another Midlands club.
Roy Hodgson is the man all fans will be hoping succeeds in the summer as England manager, but he still has a job to do at West Brom, and will be determined his side put on a good showing.
They face Bolton, the side in the relegation mire, and one who Villa’s relegation rivals QPR, and Wigan will be wanting to lose.
Wigan have a chance to save themselves of course, battling Blackburn, who have lost six of their last seven games, and a Latics win at Ewood Park would relegate Rovers.
QPR will also be desperate for three points at home to Stoke City this weekend, knowing that they travel to Manchester City on their final game of the season.
The West London side are only above Bolton on goal difference, and need to help themselves with a win or at least a draw this weekend.
After Bolton face West Brom at the Reebok, they travel to Stoke on the final day.
Their relegation rivals will be crossing their fingers Tony Pulis’ men that day, but this week it is very much Roy Hodgson who is everybody’s new favourite manager.
Unless you happen to be a Bolton fan of course. Either way, this weekend is every bit as critical as the final day for all sides battling survival.
Who do you think will go down? Will Bolton or Blackburn escape?
image: © nicksarebi
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
