A big weekend of matches at the bottom of The Premiership,kicking off Saturday lunchtime with :
Sunderland v Man Utd Anything other than an away win will be regarded as a shock here.Sunderland are 5/1 to win and that does not look generous.
Wigan v Norwich. The only bottom half v bottom half this weekend.The draw looks a likely result.That would be a better result for Norwich than Wigan but in view of the other fixtures it might not be disastrous for Wigan.
Arsenal v Reading A bigger mismatch than Sunderland according to the bookies.14/1 is available for an away win.
Man City v Newcastle 12/1 against a Geordie win here.
Southampton v Chelsea.Maybe less of a foregone conclusion at St Marys.Chelsea are looking to stey in the top four but Saints result against Liverpool shows what they are capable of on their day.
West Ham v West Brom The Hammers can move out of the relegation battle with a home win.Three points would more or less guarantee survival.
Everton v Stoke The Potters are just in the bottom half and recent form has been dire.Another club where one more win will guarantee survival.They are 7/1 against getting it at Goodison though.
Aston Villa v Liverpool. Recent Viila revival has seen them take six points from their last two games.One of those games where anything could hapen given the form of these two sides.
Fulham v QPR The home side probably have nothing to play for.QPR are on the cusp of the point where survival moves from unlikely to impossible.Lose here and they could be nine or ten points from safety with seven games remaining.
Due to the unusual set of fixtures Wigan and Norwich are the only clubs in the bottom half where one or the other must gain points.It is possible,although of course unlikely,that every other bottom half club could get nothing.