Who’ll find the Premier safety net?
IT’S A BATTLE ROYAL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE: WE ASK NEWSPAPER REPORTERS COVERING THE
Sunderland are stepping up their preparations ahead of the trip to Everton. The Black Cats prop up the rest of the table but are just two points from safety ahead of the return of Premier League action this coming weekend.
Ahead of the Goodison Park clash, we get the views of reporters covering the bottom seven sides to assess the strengths and weaknesses of those struggling to survive. at home to Everton and Tottenham this season.
But once they do concede, they chase the game and that can leave them open at the back. They’ve found themselves exposed more over the last couple of months, and that’s because they’ve relied on a steady back four that did so well for them last season and at the beginning of this campaign.
But a few injuries and suspensions have broken up that unit, and when one player drops out and another comes in it can have a detrimental effect on the team. Premier League goals (eight goals, eight assists) and his undeniable quality gives Swansea an edge over several of their rivals.
Swansea know they always stand a chance with the former Tottenham man on the field, his talent for making things happen perfectly complements the more solid base constructed by Clement. Main weakness: The Premier League’s worst defence
Most of the damage in this area was done before Clement arrived, but Swansea have managed to ship 54 goals in 24 games, the worst defensive record in the top-flight.
They have been vastly improved in this regard, yet the recent win over Leicester was the first time they have kept a clean sheet under Clement. The previous shutout came against Sunderland at the start of December.
A knock-on effect has been Swansea having a goal difference that is only better than Hull, and it could yet prove costly in the final analysis with it effectively meaning – as it stands – they cannot afford to finish level on points with the majority of their relegation rivals.
But, given they have won four of their last six games, Swansea and Clement know they have their destiny in their own hands and can make sure it does not end up as close as that.
They travel to Chelsea next, but then face a run of four fixtures against teams in the bottom half that are likely to define their season. Come out of those with a healthy haul of points and they will be closing in on survival.
Fail to do the business there and an uncomfortable and nerve-jangling final couple of months will lie in wait. Main strength: Best defence outside of the top 6.
They might not always win awards for entertainment value, but Boro remain a difficult side to beat. Indeed, for a newly-promoted team to concede just 27 goals in 25 games so far is nothing short of remarkable.
In comparison, Hull have conceded 49 goals – so being water-tight at the back means Boro boast a better goal difference than many of their bottom-half rivals.
Aitor Karanka’s side have already shown their ability to grind out unlikely points as a result of their rigid rearguard at the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City – and that’s something that could boost them during the final few months of the campaign.
With Boro still to travel to Chelsea and Liverpool, and with Manchester United and Manchester City still to come to the Riverside, the Teessiders may need to pick up some more unlikely points – and having a tight defence could be a priceless commodity during the run-in. Main weakness: Lowest scorers in the division
As good as Boro’s defence has been, it means nothing if you can’t stick the ball in the net at the other end – and that’s been their Achilles heel throughout the campaign.
No team has won fewer matches in the Premier League than Boro this season (4), no team has scored fewer goals (19) and no team has had fewer shots on target.
That’s the reason Boro are looking over their shoulders – they have struggled to convert draws into wins, most notably twice against Leicester, away at Watford and at home to West Brom.
Boro found themselves well on top against an in-form Everton last week, but again fired a blank in front of goal.
As a result, Karanka’s side are struggling to stay clear of trouble – and their end-of-season jitters will only increase given the improvement of Swansea and Hull in recent weeks.
Quite simply, Boro have to find a way of hurting the opposition more. Main strength: They have been in worse positions and survived
In terms of a relegation battle, Leicester City have been here and done it before.
In fact, they have been in pressure-filled, end of season scraps for either relegation or promotion, and even a Premier League title, for the past four seasons and have used that experience to help hold their nerve.
Two seasons ago, they were in an even worse position with 13 games to go.
Under Nigel Pearson, City were bottom of the table and five points adrift of safety at the same stage of the season, but they won seven of their final nine games to complete the greatest of great escapes.
So many of that squad are still in the City camp now, so they know what it will take to address their recent form.
Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Danny Drinkwater, Andy King and Jamie Vardy were all involved in that dogfight and they need to be the leaders for the others now.
However, it doesn’t feel from the outside that there is quite the same unity and collective will within the group this time, but everyone has learned not to write this City group off.