The Top 5 Most Nail-Biting Relegation Battles Of All Time

ТОР NAIL-BITING RELEGATION BATTLES OF ALL TIME N°5 2008/09 SEASON PRE-MATCH One of the tightest relegation run-ins in the history of the Premier League. Middlesbrough are in free fall from mid table, West Brom are languishing at the bottom of the table and Shearer's back in toon, albeit as manager. But will his fairytale return become a horror story? AT THE FINAL WHISTLE Hull held their Premier League status despite losing 1-0 at home to Man United. Shearer's fairytale turned into a nightmare as Newcastle lost 1-0 at Aston Villa following a Damien Duff own goal. Also heartache for Middlesbrough losing 2-1 at West Ham and for West Brom, who after losing to Liverpool a week prior were already relegated heading into the final game. No. CLUBS P W D LF A GD POINTS 16 Sunderland 38 9 9 20 34 54 -20 36 17 Hull City 38 8 11 19 39 64 -25 35 R Newcastle United 38 7 13 18 40 59 -19 34 R Middlesbrough 38 7 11 20 28 57 -29 32 R West Bromwich Albion 38 8 8 22 36 67 -31 32 N°4 1993/94 SEASON PRE-MATCH With Swindon and Oldham effectively relegated, Everton went into the last day of the season knowing only a win for them would be enough and needing results to go in their favour at Ipswich, Sheffield United and Southampton. Could the Toffees preserve their 40 year status in the top flight or would they meet a sticky end? AT THE FINAL WHISTLE Trailing 2-0 at home to Wimbledon, Everton managed to claw their way back and with 9 minutes remaining they took a 3-2 lead. This lifted them out of the drop zone and put Ipswich in their place who were drawing 0-0 at Blackburn. However, there was a last minute twist when Chelsea's late goal against Sheffield United sent the Blades for the chop instead. No. CLUBS W D LFA GD POINTS 16 Manchester City 42 9 18 15 38 49 -11 45 17 Everton 42 12 8 22 42 63 -21 44 18 Southampton 7 23 49 66 -17 42 43 19 Ipswich Town 42 9 16 17 35 58 -23 43 R Sheffield United 42 8 18 16 42 60 -18 42 R Oldham Athletic 42 9 13 20 42 68 -26 40 R Swindon Town 42 5 15 22 47 100 -53 30 N°3 2006/07 SEASON PRE-MATCH With six clubs battling for survival West Ham escaped a points deduction for breaking Premier League rules over the signings of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez, but were hammered with a f5.5m fine. It led to a last day run-in with Man United whilst Sheffield United v Wigan would turn into a relegation/survival play off for both teams. AT THE FINAL WHISTLE A 1-0 victory at Old Trafford secured West Ham 15th place thanks to a Carlos Tevez goal while results elsewhere condemned Charlton and Watford to relegation. Sheffield United joined them at the bottom after Wigan's 2-1 win at Bramall Lane. Ironically it was David Unsworth who had joined Wigan from Sheffield United earlier in the season and his goal from the penalty spot sealed his former sides fate. (Whilst playing for the Blades in Sept 2006 he had missed a spot kick when a goal would have won a 0-0 draw at Blackburn and ultimately help Sheffield United survive). No. CLUBS W D L F A GD POINTS 16 Fulham 38 8 15 15 38 60 -22 39 17 I Wigan Athletic 38 10 8 20 37 59 -22 38 Sheffield United 38 10 8 20 32 55 -23 38 R Charlton Athletic 38 8 10 20 34 60 -26 34 R Watford 38 5 13 20 29 59 -30 28 N°2 1995/96 SEASON PRE-MATCH Before their days of Premier League super club status, Manchester City were a club struggling to perform in the top tier of English football. They headed into the last game of the season knowing that if Southampton or Coventry lost, they would only need a draw against Liverpool to stay up. AT THE FINAL WHISTLE Man City came back from 2-0 down to 2-2 at home to Liverpool when they were told that Southampton were losing. However, this wasn't the case and the Saints were drawing 0-0. As City held possession by the corner flag Niall Quinn who had been substituted charged down the touchline urging his team mates they needed to score. The third goal never came and they were relegated on goal difference along with QPR and Bolton in one of the most confusing final day relegation battles ever. No. CLUBS P W D L F A GD POINTS 16 I Coventry City 38 8 15 15 38 60 -22 39 17 Southampton 38 10 8 20 37 59 -22 38 Manchester City 38 10 8 20 32 55 -23 38 R Queens Park Rangers 38 8 10 20 34 60 -26 34 Bolton Wanderers 38 5 13 20 29 59 -30 28 N°1 2004/05 SEASON PRE-MATCH For the first time in Premier League history no one had been relegated going into the last day of the season. During the last 90 minutes all four teams battling for survival Norwich, West Brom, Southampton and Crystal Palace would all occupy the safe 17th place, but who would be there at the final whistle? AT THE FINAL WHISTLE Southampton ended their 27year stint in the top flight losing 2-1 to Man United while Norwich lost 6-0 to Fulham to join them. Crystal Palace looked to be staying up winning 2-1 at Charlton before a late equaliser sent Palace down. Most extraordinarily West Brom leapt to safety amidst fan chants of 'Boing Boing Baggies Baggies' by beating Portsmouth2-0 and became the first team in Premier League history to survive after being bottom at Christmas. No. CLUBS W D LFA GD POINTS 16 Portsmouth 38 10 9 19 43 59 -16 39 17 West Bromwich Albion 38 6 16 16 36 61 -25 34 R X Crystal Palace 38 7 12 19 41 62 -21 33 R X Norwich City 38 7 12 19 42 77 -35 33 R X Southampton 38 6 14 18 45 66 -21 32 Thomas Cook Sport