Are we set for a first Survival Sunday since 2012?
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ByEurosport
Updated 08/04/2015 at 07:53 GMT
In-depth: Christian Benteke's hat-trick in Aston Villa's 3-3 draw with QPR has failed to break the relegation gridlock. Are we destined for final day relegation drama for the first time in three years?
Tim Sherwood hopes for a winning return to Tottenham
Image credit: Eurosport
What is 'Survival Sunday'?
The final round of fixtures on the 38th and final match day of the Premier League season in May. It's always a riveting afternoon when several Premier League clubs are on death row. We haven’t had once since 2012 when QPR stayed up despite losing to Manchester City 3-2 in a match that saw Sergio Aguero seal City’s first title since 1968 in injury time. Bolton drew at Stoke to join Blackburn Rovers and Wolves as the condemned clubs. In 2013 Wigan were down with a game to spare while Reading and QPR were gone long before. Cardiff, Fulham and Norwich were all down before the final round of fixtures last season.
What makes you think we’re set for one this year?
The rousing 3-3 draw between Aston Villa and QPR throws up more questions than answers. Christian Benteke hit a hat-trick for Villa yet they still couldn’t overcome a QPR side who remain alive and kicking in their bid to avoid tumbling back into the Championship a season after they earned promotion under Harry Redknapp. It is gridlock down there. With only six or seven - or in bottom club Leicester’s peculiar case – eight games remaining, it is too close to call with any certainty.
Who could go down?
The bottom six clubs are obviously in the mire - yet they're not the only ones in jeopardy. Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion occupy 13 and 14th spots on 35 points and 33 points respectively, and remain short of the golden mark of 39 that has signalled survival in 10 of the past 11 seasons.
Why does Survival Sunday remain so significant?
It is one of the most dramatic days in sport. Fighting to remain part of the richest league in the world only adds another dimension to an already fraught afternoon. With the £5.136 billion television contract about to kick in, the last thing any Premier League club needs is relegation. For QPR, there is also the prospect of a huge fine for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations should they return to the second tier. There is more on the line than just football. Forget the Championship play-off match being the richest game in the world - this could be the costliest football day in history.
Benteke’s hat-trick must give Villa manager Tim Sherwood real optimism?
Sherwood was so delighted he slammed his much-vaunted gilet to the ground. Defeat would have left Villa in the relegation zone and behind QPR, but Benteke struck a 25-yard free-kick with seven minutes left to complete his treble. The Belgium international has seven goals in seven games.
"It doesn't come much better than that," said Sherwood. "It's fantastic for him to score the goals, it's just a shame we couldn't get the three points. It's not about what you deserve, it's about what you get and we got one point. This could be a vital point come the end of the season in the end, when you go so late into the game and Christian has had to pull that out the bag we're grateful."
And QPR are still fighting the good fight too?
Chris Ramsey has added direction since Harry Redknapp departed, and the R's were seeking back-to-back away wins in the top flight for the first time since 1995. They host Chelsea on Sunday before welcoming West Ham and Newcastle to Loftus Road.
"I don't know what we need but we're probably going to have to win three games. I don't know what the points total will be but our two home games are going to be very important after Chelsea. We have got a couple of very difficult ones in Liverpool and Manchester City and then we have the potential cup final against Leicester on the last day of the season. Most teams would take being in it right to the end and then roll the dice, you don't want to start being detached because it's a big mountain to climb."
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