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Featured Sport News

Magpies under threat

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 23/05/2009

Newcastle United's 16-year-stay in English football's top-flight could come to an end at Aston Villa on Sunday as the Premier League season draws to a close, with the bookies making them betting favourites for the drop.

The omens are not good either as United have won only seven matches all season with only two of those successes - at Portsmouth and West Brom - coming away from St James' Park.

Since the win at The Hawthorns more than three months ago, Newcastle have taken only seven points from 12 matches with their only victory in that sequence being the 3-1 success against Middlesbrough.

However, a dismal run of one point from their last four matches has left Sunderland fans contemplating the nightmare scenario of their team being relegated and Newcastle avoiding the drop.

Last month's 1-0 victory over Hull City appeared to have banished any drop fears, but defeats to West Brom, Everton and Portsmouth and a goalless draw with Bolton have left Ricky Sbragia's side only two points above the drop-zone.

Newcastle currently occupy the final relegation place but have a better goal difference than the Black Cats, so victory for Alan Shearer's team at Villa would leave Sunderland needing to beat Chelsea to finish above their north-east rivals.

Hull City's cause could be helped by reports suggesting Manchester United will field a much-changed team at the KC Stadium as they prepare for Wednesday's Champions League Final against Barcelona.

That is excellent news for the Tigers who go into the game just outside the relegation zone after securing a vital draw at Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

It is possible that Phil Brown's team could lose on Sunday and still avoid an immediate return to the Championship but it is bound to be a nervous afternoon for all concerned.

Middlesbrough's chances of avoiding relegation were already highly unlikely before it was confirmed that Stewart Downing would miss the trip to West Ham with the foot injury he suffered in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

That result virtually condemned Gareth Southgate's side to life in the Championship next term as they are three points away from safety and have a worse goal difference than 17th-placed Hull.

Elsewhere, a draw for Fulham against Everton will almost certainly be enough for Roy Hodgson's side to qualify for next season's Europa League.

Hodgson's team go into the final round of games in seventh place, two points clear of Tottenham after winning six of their last nine matches.

Harry Redknapp's side travel to Merseyside to face a Liverpool team that has little to play for as the 2-0 victory at West Brom virtually ensured they would finish second this season.

Arsenal entertain Stoke City and there is also little to play for other than pride in the games between Blackburn and West Brom, Manchester City and Bolton, and Wigan versus Portsmouth.

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