TEAMS TOO GOOD TO GO DOWN THAT DID

NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1992-93

BRIAN CLOUGH’S final season in charge at the City Ground before he retired blotted his copybook somewhat. Forest, featuring Stuart Pearce and Roy Keane, suffered a shock relegation in the inaugural Premier League season despite finishing eighth the previous campaign.

WEST HAM 2002-2003

THIS was a starstudded West Ham team with David James, Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe, Paolo Di Canio (right) and Michael Carrick. But they were still relegated, finishing 18th, with a brain tumour for manager Glenn Roeder disrupting them towards the end of the season.

LEEDS 2003-04

THREE years after reaching the Champions League semifinals, Leeds were relegated to the second tier after financial woes. A team featuring Ian Harte, Nick Barmby, Mark Viduka, Dominic Matteo and David Batty but hindered by financial problems were not good enough to stay up.

NEWCASTLE 2015-16

A DISASTROUS campaign which saw Steve McClaren sacked in March and replacement Rafa Benitez could not keep them up. A side with several millions of investment including Fabricio Coloccini, Andros Townsend (above), Georginio Wijnaldum, Jonjo Shelvey, Papiss Cisse and Aleksandar Mitrovic were relegated before the final day and then hammered Tottenham 5-1 to sum up their frustrations.

ASTON VILLA 2015-16

A TEAM full of big names including Gabby Agbonlahor, Jordan Ayew, Jack Grealish (left), Scott Sinclair, Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards had a shambolic campaign, finishing bottom with 17 points. Villa had four separate bosses during campaign.