AFC Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has confessed that he did not expect to see the sides that are battling against relegation to be the ones struggling this campaign.
In the early kick-off on Saturday, Stoke City hosted Crystal Palace and following a late goal for the visitors, Stoke City were relegated from the top flight of English football for the first time in ten years.
West Bromwich Albion have amazingly avoided the drop with stoppage time goals, in two different games. The first was their own 92nd-minute winner against Tottenham Hotspur, which lifted them off the bottom of the table.
They then however looked set to suffer relegation with Southampton beating Everton, but a 96th-minute equaliser in that game has meant that the Baggies get to fight another day if results elsewhere go their way.
Other key games in the relegation battle involve Huddersfield Town, who play this season’s Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday and last seasons Premier League champions Chelsea on Wednesday.
Swansea City will also host Southampton on Tuesday, in a huge relegation six-pointer.
Howe told afcb.co.uk…
“For clubs down the bottom, it doesn’t get any easier. If you look at the teams that are down there, you’d never have those teams where they are.
“I don’t think there’s any such thing as an established club, if everyone has a bad season, lose key players to injury then you can end up down there.
“The challenge for us gets harder not easier, progressing the club has been a real challenge and that’s how I’ve found our three years.
“The players have proven they’re Premier League players but the expectation around the club changes and it’s our biggest challenge.
Your say…
Audenshaw Cherry wrote…
If Swansea beat Southampton in midweek or it’s a draw then with a game against Man City to finish I would put my money on Saints to go down. Swansea play Stoke in the last game at home. – Join the conversation, click here.
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