Some fans have an abundance to chant about, others are simply content with the progress their teams have made and then there are the unfortunate fans. The one’s who will be watching their football on the ‘extra’ channels next season. The one’s who’ll be wearing jackets over their replica strip, avoiding heated debates and group banter in fear of being ridiculed for their now subdued support.

As the English Premier League season reaches 2 games till end and all the focus is on the top of the league table and what has looked like the position changing of a MotoGP, I thought I’d pay some attention to the table’s ‘Red Zone’. The last men standing.

Blackpool

Every season it seems that there is one team who climbs up out of the Championship gravel pit and comes slashing their way through the Premiership with immense vigor and bloodthirsty determination. Every season, that respective team also seems to come up a little short when the pressure of the league intensifies.

Blackpool entered the Premier League last year seemingly intent on proving that they belong there. They have been the cause of some surprising upsets (Spurs and Liverpool combined only managed a point over 4 games), a few frustrating draws and even in games they’ve lost, they’ve shown a hunger to ‘hang-on’. Sitting just a point behind 17th placed Wolves, they still have a realistic chance of staying in the Premier playground next season. However, their next run sees them face a very unpredictable Bolton and then having to finish up against the league leaders Manchester United before securing a grip on the ledge. Maybe Fergie’s men could put the league away against Blackburn this weekend and Blackpool can battle a more relaxed home side. With Charlie Adam being such a big contributor to the side, it makes one wonder if the men in orange would be in a better position had he spent less time off the pitch due to suspension.

Position prediction: 17th – Blackpool have the tougher run in comparison to Wolves, and the single point separating them just might be their demise, but I can’t help but feel that Blackpool can make it out the dark with 39 points. Wolves are sitting in the better position, but can they match Blackpool’s will power when it’s down to the wire?

Bargain Bin: DJ Campbell , Charlie Adam

Wigan

Another side that raced into the premier league on the aggressive carriage of persistence, but struggled after a fairly successful first season, Wigan was promoted to the Premier League in 2005 and although they’ve managed to hang-in this long, they’re no strangers to the relegation dogfight.

In 2007 they managed a last gasp 2-1 win over Sheffield United to escape departure from the EPL. Once again they find themselves in a fate deciding position, having to battle it out with a desperate and fellow ‘Red Zone’ West Ham side this weekend, who are currently dragging at the back, 3 points behind the 19th placed Latics. In their final fixture, Wigan face a Stoke side who have shown considerably strong form of late and they can only hope that the injuries and extra game time Stoke have had to and will endure before season’s end, would offer them one more lifeline to survive another spell in the big ring.

Position prediction: 19th - The Latics have had a good run, but being at this point again this soon, I fear it’s a closed door for them.

Bargain Bin: Charles Nzogbia, Maynor Figueroa & Hugo Rodallega.

West Ham

Backed up in the corner. Covered in blood and sweat. One final round left to salvage any chance of survival.

It’s a sad state of affairs for a team who’s loyal supporters happily chant of blowing bubbles. West Ham appear to be the usual suspects when it comes to staring into the relegation abyss. Having to try and plead their case away to mutually threatened Wigan doesn’t spare much hope for even the most positive of the Hammer faithful. Should they not produce the all but compulsory 3 points this weekend, West Ham will be waving the Premier League goodbye for the second time in less than a decade. In the event that they should miraculously pull themselves up onto Wigan’s shoulders, they’re still left with one final bout against 12th placed Sunderland. Six points would be of little guarantee as the Hammers would still be dependent on the cold ifs of Blackpool and Wolves not attaining another point from their final fixtures.

Position prediction: 20th – A draw between the Latics and the Hammers should finish both sides off.

Bargain Bin: Wayne Bridge, Matthew Upson, Mark Noble, Scott Parker, Demba Ba, Carlton Cole.

Football breeds drama. Like the apex to an epic tale, we thrive on the excitement and intensity that the final chapter offers us. Spurs need to defeat Liverpool for any hope of European competition. The chance of Chelsea making a final dive for the League trophy may be truly unlikely, but it’s not a dead ambition yet. Both Stoke and Man City are a game away from lifting silverware for the first time in more than 3 decades. These battles all hold promise of thrilling viewing, but the only thing more intensely packed with gut yanking suspense than watching teams fight it out for glory, is watching them fight for survival.

Nick Hoekstra

Pic: skysports.com