The relegation scrap without any fight

Calamity defending and a lack of cutting edge. This morning’s papers were probably able to recycle Monday’s night’s match reports from Anfield when describing Hull’s defeat to Aston Villa at the KC Stadium.

A poster on KUMB this week suggested that the Premier League might consider relegating four teams instead of the usual three – the baffling lack of urgency shown by the two relegation rivals this week makes a pretty good case for it.

The team who triumphs in the end of season relegation scrap is usually the one who manages to build up some momentum in the closing weeks and a heroic final day performance (think Old Trafford 2007). This season’s scrap to beat the drop threatens to conclude with more of a whimper – a relegation fight without any fighting.

Having been relegated with a record 42 points in 2003, the Irons threaten to add another equally dubious accolade at the end of this campaign. The current record for the lowest points total for a team surviving the drop was 34 by West Brom back in 2005. With the Hammers on 31 being three points clear of 18th placed Hull and with a far superior goal difference, it’s perfectly conceivable that the Irons could survive without winning another game this season.

Saturday looks like being the pivotal day of the campaign. For both West Ham (home to Wigan) and Hull (home to Sunderland), it brings the fixtures that on paper should provide the best chance of a win between now and the end of the season. By 5pm, West Ham could be six points clear and all but safe, or alternatively they could be level with Hull and clear of the drop zone on goal difference alone.

There doesn’t seem to be much point looking at the form table and trying to predict the outcome. No one could have predicted Hull’s 4-1 capitulation at home to Burnley, yet the Tigers followed that shock result up with a credible point at Birmingham. Likewise, the Irons’ surprise point at Everton came on the back of a disastrous run of defeats and was followed up by a battling win at the Boleyn against Sunderland.

Yet on the basis of the performances in their respective games this week however, the reasoned onlooker would doubt either team’s ability to pick up points at the weekend. In fact, with Liverpool being distracted by their European exploits, one could even put forward a case for Burnley upsetting the odds at Turf Moor on Sunday and putting themselves right back into the mix for survival.

Should West Ham survive, the emotions will most likely be a sigh of relief rather than the euphoria of a Great Escape. It’s been a season to forget where the fans of the team who finishes 17th should be more grateful for the failings of their rivals than the abilities of their own players.

For West Ham, the return of Scott Parker on Saturday should bring some much needed energy to the team, but it’s a sad indictment of the influence of the number eight that the team was so lifeless in his absence at Anfield. Even Zola – impassive and silent on the touchline – seemed to have resigned himself to defeat on Monday long before the game was up.

A bit more passion and dedication is vital, otherwise the Irons will simply have to rely on the failings of the teams below them in order to cling onto Premier League status.

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